It’s A Herbie returns in winning form

LEBANON, OH – After a two month absence, It’s A Herbie returned to the Miami Valley harness racing winner’s circle following Tuesday (April 6) afternoon’s $20,000 Open Trot. Using the winner’s customary come-from-behind tactic, driver LeWayne Miller rallied him from sixth and last at the half and fourth at the top of the stretch to edge Lane Of Stone (Trevor Smith) in 1:52.4.

The clocking represents a new lifetime mark for the five-year-old son Here Comes Herbie. Shake It Mary (Dan Noble) earned the show dough in the compact field.

Verlin Yoder owns It’s A Herbie, who now has 17 career victories and eclipsed the half million earnings plateau with the win.

IT’S A HERBIE REPLAY

Ohio-sired trotting colts went postward in two $15,000 elimination divisions of the annual James K. Hackett Memorial late-closer, which kicks off the Buckeye stakes season. The $40,000 championship leg will be raced next Tuesday (April 13).

Winning Ticket (Aaron Merriman), who banked $95,047 as a two-year-old, commenced his sophomore season by coasting to a 1:55.3 score over Fire Cross (Trace Tetrick) and Lockbox (Chris Page). Come On Sail (Tyler Smith) also qualified to advance to the lucrative final from the first split. Trainer Chris Beaver co-owns Winning Ticket with partners Steve Zeehandelar, Tim Homan and Jim Burnett.

WINNING TICKET REPLAY

Panzano (Noble) guided another Beaver trainee to victory in the other division, beating Credit Ace (Chris Page) and Tango With Me (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) in 1:56.1. The Spaaaartners Stable own the son of Coraggioso, who also earned $75,224 in his two-year-old campaign.

Peter’s Royalty (Josh Sutton) and Poets N Pirates (Tetrick) also earned spots in the $40,000 championship field.

PANZANO REPLAY

Racing resumes Friday (April 9) and Saturday (April 10) at Miami Valley with the customary weekend 4:05 p.m. post times.

For full race results, click here.

From Miami Valley Raceway