Lebanon, OH — Winning Ticket and Panzano won their respective $15,000 elimination divisions of the James K. Hackett Memorial late-closing event for Ohio-sired trotting colts on Tuesday (April 6) at Miami Valley Raceway.

Winning Ticket won the fastest of Tuesday’s eliminations of the James K. Hackett Memorial for Ohio-sired sophomore trotting colts. Conrad photo.

Winning Ticket (Aaron Merriman), who banked $95,047 as a 2-year-old, commenced his sophomore season by coasting to a 1:55.3 score over Fire Cross (Trace Tetrick) and Lockbox (Chris Page). Come Sail Away (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.

Another Beaver trainee claimed victory in the other division, as Panzano (Noble) Credit Ace (Chris Page) and Tango With Me (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) in 1:56.1. The Spaaaartners Stable owns the son of Coraggioso, who also earned $75,224 in his 2-year-old campaign.

Peter’s Royalty (Josh Sutton) and Poets N Pirates (Tetrick) also earned spots in the $40,000 final, which will take place next Tuesday (April 13).

After a two-month absence, It’s A Herbie returned to the Miami Valley winner’s circle following Tuesday (April 6) afternoon’s $20,000 Open Trot.

Using It’s A Herbie’s customary come-from-behind tactic, driver LeWayne Miller rallied him from last at the half and fourth at the top of the stretch to edge Lane Of Stone (Trevor Smith) in 1:52.4, a new lifetime mark for the 5-year-old son of Here Comes Herbie. Shake It Mary (Dan Noble) earned third in the compact field of six.

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

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