Lebanon, OH — A pair of seasoned veterans got the new year off to a stellar start at Miami Valley on Sunday (Jan. 8) capturing the featured and co-featured races. Let It Ride N (Brett Miller) opened his 10-year-old season with a sharp 1:50.4 score in the initial $30,000 Open Pace, while 11-year-old My Hero Ron (Josh Sutton) captured a $22,000 co-feature for the highest conditioned horses in southwest Ohio.

Let It Ride N cruised to a 1:50.4 triumph in Miami Valley’s $30,000 Open on Sunday. Conrad photo.

Let It Ride N took full advantage of an inside draw and fronted the featured field the entire trip. Miller posted fractions of :27, :55.1 and 1:23 before tacking on a final :27.4 panel to seal the deal. Longshot Saddle Up (Brandon Bates) came flying through the stretch to finish second, while Robert Again (Josh Sutton) garnered the show dough.

Mike Hitchcock conditions the son of Rock N Roll Heaven for William Hartt and Enzed Racing Stable. The New Zealand bred winner won 13 times in 2022 and banked $256,576, He now sports 41 career victories with $733,068.

My Hero Ron, a lifetime winner of $1,270,897, made $100,846 in 2022 — his sixth consecutive season with six figure earnings. Also starting from the No. 1 post position, the son of Well Said topped favored HP Napoleon (Chris Page) and Bet Mine (Miller) in the 1:52.2 mile, returning $8 to his backers after a two-hole trip had him ready to pounce to victory in the stretch.

Dan Dubeansky trains My Hero Ron for owner Brian Witt. The classy gelding will be returning to face Open company following his 51st visit to a winner’s circle.

Driver Trace Tetrick notched a grand slam on the Sunday program with reinsmen Tyler Smith, Sam Widger, Sutton and Miller all posting a pair of wins.

Wagering has been brisk during the first week of the Miami Valley season. With an average handle after five programs of $561,456 the track is well ahead of its corresponding numbers from a year ago when the average handle was $460,140 after the first five cards.

There will be two enticing carryovers when racing resumes on Monday (Jan. 9) with another 14-race offering. The first 50-cent Pick-4, which starts in race four, will feature a $1,945 carryover. The daily 50-cent Pick-5, which starts in race 10, will start with a $2,636 carryover.

Post time on Miami Valley’s regular Sunday through Thursday schedule is always 4 p.m.