Lebanon, OH — Highlights of the Monday afternoon (Feb. 10) matinee at Miami Valley Raceway were three divisions of the first leg of the Omar Hiteman Memorial Series and four splits of second elimination round action in the Survivor Series for $5,000 male pacers.

American Trademark (Trace Tetrick) captured the first division of the Hiteman for green pacing horses in 1:55.1 over a track rated good, topping ER Hotshot (Ricky Macomber Jr.) and Sundown Showdown (Brady Galliers). The Tyler George owned and trained 4-year-old son of Rockin Image paid $11.60 for his second lifetime win in just seven starts.

Fishin For Apples (John DeLong) proved worthy of his even money favoritism, besting Farmers Only (Tetrick) and Letsmakithapncapn (Trevor Smith) in 1:54.4. The impressive late-blooming 4-year-old gelding by Mr Apples, owned by Kathleen Prickett and trained by Rob Cook, now has triumphed in half of his first six career tries.

Captain Sunshine (Cameron McCown, 1:55.3, $3.60) remained undefeated in four lifetime trips to post beating Spoiled Rockn (Kayne Kauffman) and Sunshine’s Finest (Miller). The 4-year-old gelded son of Captaintreacherous is owned by Country Club Acres, Joe Sbrocco and Richard Lombardo.

The Survivor Series field was narrowed from 40 to 20 for a pair of $7,500 third round final elimination races next week. The $20,000 championship tilt is scheduled for Monday (Feb. 24).

Winners of this week’s four elimination heats were A J Corbelli (Kayne Kauffman, 1:56, $4.40), Hit And Giggle A (Brett Miller, 1:56, $3.80), Star Guitar (Miller, 1:56.4, $3.60) and I Am Will (Jason Beattie, 1:55.1, $35.80). Three of the four winners were claimed for the second week in a row and will race out of new homes in the final elimination.

Rules called for all horses to carry $5,000 claiming tags in Round 1, then only horses claimed in Round 1 eligible to be claimed for an enhanced tag of $6,500 in Round 2. The price tags escalate to $8,500 in Round 3 on just the four horses that were collared in Round 2 and advanced with a top five finish.