Lebanon, OH – Oh Look Magic and Fifty Rivers took the top spots in Wednesday’s (Feb. 18) features at Miami Valley Raceway, with Oh Look Magic setting a national-best time in the process.
Fifty Rivers got things going early in the co-featured $32,000 Open II, leaving from post three and clearing to the front in a sharp :27 opening quarter. After getting a breather to the half, reached in :56, Fifty Rivers began to face his main challenger in the race as Robert Michael pulled first-up from third and drew within a head as they passed three quarters in 1:24.
The two drew even as they exited the final turn and exchanged leads of a nose several times down the stretch, with Fifty Rivers eventually crossing the wire first in 1:53.3. Robert Micheal was second by a very tight nose while the pocket-sitting Herecomescharlie B finished third. The top six in the race were separated by just a length and a half.
For Fifty Rivers, the win was his second in a row and his second since joining the Antonia Storer stable. Fifty Rivers currently holds the second-fastest time (1:52.3) and the second-highest earnings ($42,575) for any trotter in the U.S. this year, trailing only the other Miami Valley co-feature winner, Oh Look Magic.
Speaking of Oh Look Magic, he continued his impressive form by taking the $36,000 Open Handicap.
Floating out from post eight in the eight-horse field, Chris Page waited for the inside horses to settle their differences and line up single file before pressing on and eventually taking the lead past the quarter in :27.3. From there, Oh Look Magic never let anyone even get to his wheel as he cruised through fractions of :56.1 and 1:23.3.
From the stretch on, only Adamsville Road could pose as a threat as he edged out from the pocket and driver Luke Hanners urged him on, but Chris Page had Oh Look Magic under a tight hand drive as he stopped the timer in a national season best, 1:51.3. Adamsville Road finished second, one length back, while Sayinwhatimthinkin rallied for third.
The win was the third in a row for the Ron Burke-trained Oh Look Magic, and his 14th win in his last 18 starts. It pushed his season’s earnings to a national leading $85,500.
Driver Brett Miller had a grand slam on the evening’s card. Trevor Smith and Kayne Kauffman each had a double. Heather France and Virgil Morgan Jr. each had a training double.
Miami Valley will close the week on Thursday (Feb. 19) with a post time of 4 p.m. (EST).