Lebanon, OH — I Know My Chip (Brandon Bates), a 9-year-old son of Ohio sire Deep Chip, notched his 44th lifetime victory on Tuesday afternoon (March 2) at Miami Valley in the featured $22,500 Open Trot.

Millionaire I Know My Chip captured the $22,500 Open Trot at Miami Valley on Tuesday, earning his 44th career victory in the act. Conrad photo.

Despite having just one start under his girth. the winner was favored and did not disappoint with a 1:54.2 front-stepping performance. Black Mamba AS (Tyler Smith), the recently crowned champion of the Howard Beissinger Memorial Medley, was a game second, with MVP Luke (Josh Sutton) picking up third.

Walter Haynes Jr. trains I Know My Chip for owners Brian Carsey, Black & White Stable and Casey Myers. The bay gelding, who was bred by Kim Dailey, has earned the vast majority of his $1,059,688 bankroll racing in the Midwest, particularly Ohio and Indiana.

A pair of final-leg preliminary divisions of the Ray Paver Jr. Memorial Series, for trotters who have not won four races or $40,000, were also contested.

Coconut Kate (Randy Crisler) became the only repeat winner in the series when she downed SM Count On Me (Chris Presley) and Bluebird Deacon (Kayne Kauffman) in 1:55.4 for trainer Peter Redder and owner Therl Hensley. Susie D (Dan Noble) also advanced from the first split to the $25,000 final next week.

Howyadoinbub (Noble) was victorious in the other division, topping Deswanslittlelorie (John DeLong) and Miss Smead (Don Eash) in 1:55. The trio of top finishers will also be joined by fourth- and fifth-place finishers, Swan Fashion (Tyler Smith) and Just For Us (Kauffman), in the final. Bobbie Jo Brewer trains Howyadoinbub, who won the recently completed Robert J. Brown Memorial Series, for owners Kevin Manley and Brian Georges.