Lebanon, OH – A classy field of trotters with over $4.6 million in combined earnings lined up for the $25,000 Open Handicap Trot at Miami Valley on Tuesday (April 27), but they were no match for Mission Accepted (Chris Page). The 6-year-old son of Manofmanymissions won his third straight top trot in 1:53.2, despite being assigned post nine and being parked three-wide around the entire first turn.

Mission Accepted proved too much for the top trotters at Miami Valley on Tuesday, winning his third straight Open Handicap in 1:53.2. Conrad photo.

Icanflylikeanangel (Dan Noble), the eventual runner-up, left the gate quickly and reached the first quarter in :27. Mission Accepted and Page were caught widest of all as a number of hopefuls in the 10-horse field also sped out from the gate vying for good early position. After finally reaching the front just before reaching the finish line the first time, Mission Accepted stopped the midway timer in :56.3 and finished the third stanza in 1:24.2. A :29 final panel enabled the winner to hold off pocket rival Icanflylikeanangel and third-place finisher Lane Of Stone (Jeff Nisonger), who rallied from the rear of the field.

Mission Accepted, who learned his juvenile lessons from trainer Jeff Conger, now races out of the Ron Burke barn for owners Burke Racing, Knox Services, David Willis and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. With 23 career wins under his girth, Mission Accepted now has earned $926,997 in his career.

Miami Valley has just four days left in its 2021 season. Post time on Friday (April 30) is 4:05 p.m., when 10 of the 14 races will be $17,500 Buckeye Stallion Series events for Ohio-sired 3-year-old colts. Due to the Kentucky Derby, post time on Saturday’s (May 1) card, which features a pair of Open Paces and eight divisions of Buckeye Stallion Series races for fillies, will be noon. The final two programs, on Sunday (May 2) and Monday (May 3), will feature Ohio Sires Stakes races for the best sophomore pacers and trotters in the state. Post time on those two programs is 2:05 p.m.