Favorites dominate in Williams Memorial Series

LEBANON, OH – The first of nine annual “Lebanon Legends” series to be contested at Miami Valley Raceway over the next couple months kicked off on Sunday (Feb. 27). Three $15,000 divisions of the George Williams Memorial Series for harness racing male pacers who were non-winners of four pari-mutuel races or $40,000 lifetime at nomination deadline went postward.

Post time favorites and a strong second choice were victorious in Leg 1.

Heavily favored Cody Hanover (Dan Noble) was an easy 1:53.4 winner in the first split, wiring the field without an anxious moment. CC Official (Jeremy Smith) got up for second, slightly over two lengths behind, while Big Chief Arrow (Josh Sutton) was next best.

Andre Nared trains the 5-year-old winner, a son of Dragon Again, for Lionel Watiker. Cody Hanover won 13 races at Ohio county fairs during his juvenile seasons, then won three times at Yonkers Raceway as a 4-year-old out of the Jen Bonjiorno Stable.

Off at 1-9, Cody Hanover returned a paltry $2.20 to win.

The 6-5 favorite Dial Him Up (Trace Tetrick) used similar tactics to win the second division, beating Freddie Faves (Jeremy Smith) by a length and a quarter in 1:52.4. Tuggin On My Heart (James Yoder) and Advance Man (Cameron McCown) couldn’t be separated at the finish line resulting in a dead heat for third.

The impressive score was just the fourth lifetime for Dial Him Up, who is conditioned by Rob Cook for owner Millard Adams. The winner has banked almost $22,000 in six 2022 starts and now sports a two-race win streak.

Dial Him Up returned $4.60 for a $2 bet.

Amour Chief (Chris Page, 2-1) also played “catch me if you can” in the third split, holding off Rose Run Warner (Tony Hall) and 9-5 favorite Smile Today (Trace Tetrick) in 1:54.

Page is co-owner of the winner with George Birkhold, with Tim Grubb doing the conditioning. The 4-year-old by Yankee Cruiser now has six lifetime wins with half of them coming at county fairs.

The $6.80 win mutual was the largest of the three Leg 1 events.

Next Sunday’s second leg of the George Williams Memorial Series will carry $20,000 purses. The Sunday (March 13) championship will feature the top money earners in the series facing off in a $30,000 final.

Miami Valley races at 4:05 every Sunday through Thursday.