Lebanon, OH – Oakwood Heymiki IR returned to the winner’s circle Sunday afternoon (April 19), narrowly taking the featured $36,000 Miami Valley Open Handicap.
Floating out from the starting gate, Brett Miller and Oakwood Heymiki IR would settle in fifth as Charlie May and Sam Widger sprinted off the wings and quickly took command of the field past an opening quarter of :27.3. Passing the grandstands for the first time, the two double millionaires in the field, Charlie May and Little Rocket Man, sat first and second with Paris’s Dragon following in third. As they neared the tote board, Miller moved Oakwood Heymiki IR first over, towing along Alta Revelry N. Reaching the half in a leisurely :56.2, Charlie May continued to show the way with Oakwood Heymiki IR right at his wheel. With heads pointed towards three quarters, Charlie May was still cutting the fractions, but Oakwood Heymiki IR kept grinding away, closing within a neck as they passed three quarters in 1:23.2.
Into the stretch, Charlie May maintained a short lead, but Oakwood Heymiki IR would not go away. The two leaders battled nose-to-nose and stride-for-stride with Oakwood Heymiki IR getting up to win by a neck at the wire, stopping the timer in 1:50.3. Little Rocket Man would hold for third.
For the Robert Cleary-trained Oakwood Heymiki IR, it was his third win on the year, and 26th win in 50 career starts, pushing his lifetime earnings over the $200,000 mark.
Miller and Luke Hanners led the card with three driving wins apiece. Mike Hitchcock turned in a training double.
Racing action resumes Monday night (April 20) with a 4 p.m. post time.