Lebanon, OH – Better Is Nice ($15.60) upset Open favorites Im Skinnydipin N and Little Rocket Man to take Sunday night’s (Jan. 18) $36,000 feature.
Leaving alertly from post four, Better Is Nice and driver Tyler Smith cleared easily to front off the wings of the Mike Woebkenberg starting gate. Joelsyy Hanover protected position from post two and came away with a pocket trip while heavy favorites Im Skinnydipin N and Little Rocket Man got away third and forth as the field fell in single file through a quarter in :27.1. Heading past the grandstands for the first time, Little Rocket Man led the first up charge, while Better Is Nice continued with the lead through the half in :55.3. The tempo quickened down the backside as the order remained the same through three quarters in 1:22.4. Little Rocket Man got within a length of the pacesetter, but no closer while Joelsyy Hanover lost some ground from the pocket while shuffling race favorite Im Skinnydipin N to nearly last, albeit only five lengths off the lead. As they turned for home, Better Is Nice found himself clear by two lengths with a tiring Little Rocket Man to the outside and a blocked in Im Skinnydipin N waiting for racing room. The two lengths was all that Smith needed and Better Is Nice cruised home to victory in a sharp 1:50.1. Joelsyy Hanover managed to hold off a trio of challengers for second while a late, hard charging from last I Did It Myway closed for third.
The win was the second in the last three starts in Open company for Better Is Nice, and his 17th victory in just 47 lifetime starts. The Mike Hitchcock-trained 5-year-old improved his lifetime earnings to just over $1.2 million.
Trainers Jessica Millner and Tyler George each had training doubles, while Jeremy Smith and Luke Hanners led all drivers with three wins each on the card.
Racing action returns Monday night (Jan. 19) with a modest Pick 5 carryover of $1,364. The Pick 5 starts in race 2, post time for the card is 4 p.m.