Lebanon, OH – Just A Passenger (Chris Page) was crowned champion of the Ray Paver Sr. Memorial Series on Tuesday (March 10) at Miami Valley Raceway, topping Quick N Balanced (Trace Tetrick) and Forget It Im Crazy (Kayne Kauffman) in 1:54.1.  The winning 4-year-old son of Cayenne Turbo endured a first-over journey pressuring front stepper Feel Invincible AS (Dan Noble) through the middle half mile before finally clearing past the three-quarters and sailing to a comfortable three length victory.

Just A Passenger endured a first-over journey and sailed home to win by three lengths in the co-feature at Miami Valley. Conrad photo. 

The triumph in the $25,000 event was the sixth of Just A Passenger’s career, but fourth of 2020 for the Burke Brigade.

A $25,000 Open Handicap Trot was also contested with Majestic Player A (Brett Miller) continuing his domination of the weekly feature.  Following a week off, the recent Australian import extended his win streak to four despite starting from an assigned difficult No. 9 post position.  Racing fourth most of the mile, the 3-5 favorite swung three-wide around the final bend and scored handily in 1:52.4.  Party At The Banks (Page) followed the winning 6-year-old gelding throughout but couldn’t collar him in the stretch.  No Whip Chip (Noble) made a first-over bid during the third stanza but had to settle for third in the end.

Majestic Player A won his fourth in a row as the 3-5 favorite. Conrad photo.

Junior Haynes trains Majestic Player A for Jeffrey Fought, Brian Carsey and Casey Myers.

Fans were treated to an endurance test and a dash on Tuesday as well.  In the 1-1/4 mile race for mid-range condition pacers it was Manny (Noble) getting up in the final 50 yards to beat Dont Say Goodby (Tetrick) and Anoche (Kauffman) in 2:25.3.  Trainer Peter Redder and partner Wilfong Racing own the 7-year-old son of American Ideal who now has 22 wins in 140 career efforts.

The 5/8ths mile dash for $8,000 claimers produced a major upset when That’s Some Plan (Kauffman) held off New Patrol (Shawn Barker II) and Khan Blue Chip (Page) in 1:09.4.  The 9-year-old Somebeachsomewhere son paid $43.80 for his first win in five 2020 tries.  Dennis Putnam trains the dash victor for the Paradise Racing Stable.