Chris Beaver trotter is gold in Miami Valley Open

Caviar Gold (Triumphant Caviar) made a successful jump from the Open II to the top class on Monday (March 14th) harness racing action at Miami Valley Raceway, converting a pocket trip to take the $34,000 Open Handicap Trot.

Driver Chris Page made sure the betting favorite got position early and he was part of a three-wide charge to the opening quarter that was reached in :28.0. Caviar Gold drove between horses to take over from first leader Lane Of Stone (Jeremy Smith) and he was soon overtaken by Scorecard Dan (Sam Widger).

Widger and Scorecard Dan would lead through the half in :56.3 and would soon come under siege from a first up attack from Spitfire Oversees, winner of the Open Handicap Trot on March 11th.

Those two rivals battled through a :27.3 third quarter with Caviar Gold lurking in the pocket and Lane Of Stone racing fourth. Spitfire Oversees broke on the final bend, which allowed Page to pop Caviar Gold out of the pocket and launch his assault on the leader. Caviar Gold poked his head in front on the shadow of the wire with Scorecard Dan holding second. It was another neck back to Lane Of Stone in third.

CAVIAR GOLD REPLAY

Caviar Gold completed the mile in 1:53.3, winning for the second time in four 2024 starts. He earned $17,000 for trainer Chris Beaver, who co-owns Caviar Gold with partners Bill Manes and Leo Fleming of Ontario and Steven Zeehandelar of Ohio. He pushed his lifetime earnings over $480,000.

Caviar Gold returned $5.00 to his backers and combined with Scorecard Dan for a $15.60 exacta. Those that bet the trifecta with those two and Lane Of Stone third got $62.20 for every $2 tri bet.

The $31,000 Open II Trot was taken by Don’t Take My Keys (Uncle Peter), who produced a big first-over effort for trainer/driver Ryan Stahl.

Robert’s Hanover (Jeremy Smith) drove to the lead just before reaching the :27.3 opening quarter and he led through the half in :57.4. At that point, Stahl had already started his overland journey with the eventual winner, and Don’t Take My Keys would soon engage the leader in battle.

Don’t Take My Keys stuck his head in front at the three-quarters, timed in 1:25.2 with Robert’s Hanover trying to battle back and first leader Sandis Commando L (Hank Levan) advancing on cover in third after sliding off the pylons.

Don’t Take My Keys powered down the lane to extend his lead and he hit the wire 1 1/2 lengths ahead of a closing Sandis Commando L in 1:55.3. Robert’s Hanover was another head back in third.

DON’T TAKE MY KEYS REPLAY

Don’t Take My Keys won for the second time in eight starts this year for Nichole Stahl and Mary Stucky of Ohio. He boosted his lifetime earnings over the $200,000 mark with the victory. He returned $5.60 as the favorite and combined with Sandis Commando L for a $18.90 exacta. The $2 trifecta with Robert’s Hanover paid $50.60.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting Results

by Garnet Barnsdale, for Harnesslink