The Bethinator & Opening Claim To Fame Action

LEBANON, OH. – The Bethinator (Tyler Smith) is on quite the roll on the harness racing southwest Ohio circuit. The just turned four-year-old won for the fourth time in her last five tries, copping her third Mares Open in her last four tries on Friday (Jan. 8) in 1:52.

The daughter of Somebeachsomewhere, dispatched as the second choice in the betting, returned $6.40 to win. Coupled with 12-1 longshot Summer Charm (Josh Sutton) the $2 exacta paid $42.80. Sugar Dance (Brett Miller) finished third creating a $43.15 payoff for a correct 50-cent trifecta ticket.

Nelson Willis conditions The Bethinator for owner Megan Rogers Racing Stable.

The popular Miami Valley "Claim To Fame" series lifted off on Friday night with $20,000 mare pacers competing in three divisions and $12,500 male pacers featured in six splits.

Winning the trio of distaff claimers, going for $20,000 purses, were M E Radar Girl (Trace Tetrick, 1:55, $4), American Cheer (Josh Sutton, 1:53.2, $11.80) and Malnificent (Tetrick, 1:52, $17.40. A total of five mares were purchased via the claim box for a total of $120,000, although none of the winners was among them.

In the "boys" six divisions chasing $12,500 purses the winners were Armabluechipboy N (Kayne Kauffman, 1:54, $69.60), J M Jet Set (Dan Noble, 1:53.1, $4.60), Giuseppe Mollusca (Noble, 1:55.1, $8.60), Panoramic View (Tetrick, 1:54.4, $5.80), Sprinter N (Chris Page, 1:54.3, $4.80) and Persistent Threat A (Page, 1:56, $3.20). Fourteen of the 54 hopefuls that went to post in the first leg will race for new owners, due to claims, for a 30% increase in their value in leg two.

The Bethinator

Chris Page topped all drivers on the program with five trips to the winners circle. Leading driver Trace Tetrick had a triple, while Dan Noble and Josh Sutton each fashioned driving doubles. Sutton is now just three tallies away from the 5,000 career wins plateau.

Racing resumes at Miami Valley on Saturdqay (Jan. 9) with a 4:05 post time.

Gregg Keidel