Lebanon, OH — Sweet Mr Pinetucky prevailed in 1:53.4 in Miami Valley Raceway’s $22,500 Open Trot on Tuesday (Feb. 23) in 1:53.4, missing his career mark by just one-fifth of a second.

Sweet Mr Pinetucky pulled a mild 1:53.4 upset in the $22,500 Open Handicap Trot at Miami Valley on Tuesday. Conrad photo.

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.

With the score, the 7-year-old homebred son of Pinetucky increased his lifetime win total to 27 while increasing his earnings for owners Lester and Floyd Raber to $305,909. He returned $18.20 to win.

A pair of first-leg divisions of the Ray Paver Sr. Memorial Series, for trotters who have not won four pari-mutuel races or $40,000, 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. Trotting mares notably 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. 24) with a 2:05 p.m. post time. Due to a two-day carryover approaching $4,000 in the track’s Pick-5 wager, the Wednesday pool will be guaranteed at $10,000, in conjunction with the United States Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering Platform. Due to an abbreviated 10-race program, the Pick-5 will be comprised of races six through 10 and will start at approximately 3:40 p.m.