Lebanon, OH — It took him three trips to Ohio to beat the Midwest’s best pacers, but Chicago invader He’zzz A Wise Sky got the job done on Thursday (March 10) with the quickest mile of the meet. The 1:49.2 clocking was just two-fifths of a second off the all-time track record of 1:49 taken by Nuclear Dragon in late April 2018.

Chicago invader He’zzz A Wise Sky won the Open I in 1:49.2, just two-fifths of a second off the track record. Conrad photo.

Driver Sam Widger, undaunted by the No. 6 post position in the eight-horse field, fired from the gate and secured the front before reaching the :26.4 first quarter beam in the $28,000 Open I. Knowing that his horse was razor sharp, having won five Open paces at Hawthorne already this year, Widger rolled on enough to keep his challengers along the pylons until just before reaching the :55.1 halfway point.

YS Mathis (Dan Noble) and Americanprimetime (Brett Miller) formed an outer flow during the third stanza, but could not sustain after the quick :27 panel. GD Western Joe (Chris Page) enjoyed a pocket ride throughout the race and found clearance at the head of the stretch, but his valiant attempt to catch He’zzz A Wise Sky fell a length short. Just A Start (Tyler Smith) garnered the show dough as the first four finishers all paced miles under 1:50 and the remaining four all paced under 1:51.

John Filomeno trains the 5-year-old son of Yankee Skyscaper out of the Four Starzzz Shark mare Gimmeazzzmooch. The winner was bred by Donald and Joann Filomeno and is owned by Triple Zzz Stable. With $55,720 banked already this season, He’zzz A Wise Sky surpassed the $375,000 earnings plateau with the impressive tally.

A $24,000 Open II Pace also went postward with Rock Diamonds N (Mitch Cushing) holding off My Hero Ron (Tyler Smith) and Havefaithinme N (Noble) in 1:52. It was the second straight victory for the 9-year-old son of Rocknroll Hanover, who now has 40 career wins and pushed past the $500,000 earnings plateau. He is co-owned by trainer Ron Cushing (Mitch’s dad) with partner Kevin Sywyk.

Miami Valley is dark Friday and Saturday, but will return to live action on the normal Sunday through Thursday schedule on March 13 at 4:05 p.m.