Smoking Jet, the reigning Ohio Older Trotter of the Year, added his name to the growing list of 2023 winners of the Open Trot at Miami Valley on Wednesday (March 29). The six-year-old son of Triumphant Caviar became the eighth winner of the $30,000 weekly feature in the three months that have comprised the meet.
Following a 2-1/2 month layoff, Smoking Jet returned to the races off a single qualifier and notched his 26th win in 96 starts for driver and co-owner Chris Page. The 1:54 winner got away fifth in the full field of 10, advanced to second over in fourth by the three-quarters station, then fanned out in the stretch to top fast-closing Fawn De Touch by just over a length. The runner-up was still eighth going down the backstretch, but picked horses up one by one the rest of the Rose Run Valor finished third. Tough Muscle cut the mile through fractions of :28, :56.4 and 1:25.1, but tired in the stretch and finished eighth.
Ron Burke trains Smoking Jet for the Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi and Page. He banked $245,685 in 2022 resulting in him being named the state’s top older trotter.
First leg action in the Dr. Dan Farwick Memorial Trotting Series for non-winners of six races took place on Wednesday as well. Winners were Yo Mister (driven by Brett Miller, $5 to win, 1:54.4 winning mile) over Masculine Hill and Sandis Commando L; and Jusmakinyalook (Jordan Ross, $4, 1:54.3) over Ferretti and Prank Me.
Racing resumes Thursday with the usual 4 p.m. (EDT) post time at Miami Valley.
(With files from Miami Valley Raceway)