Sweet Mr Pinetucky nabs top trot

LEBANON, OH – Miami Valley Raceway seems to be a course for the horse in the case of Sweet Mr Pinetucky. The seven-year-old homebred son of Pinetucky prevailed in the $22,500 Open Trot on Tuesday (Feb. 23) in 1:53.4, just one-fifth of a second off his career mark taken over the same southwest Ohio five-eighths mile oval just under a year ago. With the score the winner increased his lifetime win total to 27 while increasing his earnings for owners Lester and Floyd Raber to $305,909.

Driver Trace Tetrick hustled Sweet Mr. Pinetucky to the early lead before yielding to last week's winner Workinitonbroadway (Josh Sutton) near the :27.4 first quarter station. With a pocket ride through middle splits of :57.4 and 1:25.3, the winner trotted willingly through the stretch once shown some daylight. Workinitonbroadway held for second with Milford's Z Tam (Mitchell Cushing) benefitting from a ground saving trip to finish third.

A pair of first leg divisions of the Ray Paver Sr. Memorial series for non-winners of four or $40,000 trotters were also contested. The quickest heat went to Miss Smead (LeWayne Miller) in a lifetime best 1:55.3, beating Deswanslittlelorie (John DeLong) and Swan Fashion (Tyler Smith).

Coconut Kate (Randy Crisler) triumphed in the other division, topping Susie D (Brett Miller) and Just For Us (Kayne Kauffman) in 1:56.2. Although the nominees in this series are evenly split by gender, trotting mares swept the first five spots in one division and the top three in the other.

Miami Valley will present a special make up program on Wednesday (Feb. 23) with a 2:05 p.m. post time. Due to a two-day carryover approaching $4000 in the track's Pick-5 wager, the Wednesday pool will be guaranteed at $10,000, in conjunction with the U.S. Trotting Association's Strategic Wagering Platform. Due to an abbreviated 10-race program, the Hi-5 will be comprised of races 6 through 10 with an approximate start at 3:40 p.m.

From Miami Valley Raceway