Lebanon, OH — Three races shared the spotlight at Miami Valley Raceway on Tuesday (Feb. 18) afternoon, as the five-eighths mile oval hosted a $24,000 Open Trot, the $20,000 final of the Robert J. Brown Memorial trotting series, and the $15,000 final of the Survivor Series for $5,000 claiming mares.

Majestic Player A notched his second straight $24,000 Open Trot victory at Miami Valley on Tuesday afternoon. Conrad Photo.

In the Open Trot, Majestic Player A (Brett Miller), a recent import from Down Under, surged past Party At The Banks (Chris Page) in mid-stretch and held for a narrow 1:54.2 victory. Peggy Sue (Brady Galliers) benefitted from a pocket ride and grabbed the show dough.

Junior Haynes trains the 6-year-old winner for Jeffrey Fought, Brian Carsey and Casey Myers.

Mary Mag Delene (Sandy Beatty) sat patiently in fifth in the early going of the Robert J. Brown Memorial final for trotters who have not won two races or $20,000. After the halfway juncture was passed in :57.3, the 5-year-old daughter of Dejarmbro was angled to the outside. Moved up to second-over in fourth at the 1:27.1 three-quarters, Beatty and Mary Mag Delene had the most trot in the lane, topping Stone Cold Blue (Trace Tetrick) and stablemate B Threeseven (Miller) in 1:57.4.

“I thought the other half of my entry had a little better chance,” exclaimed an excited Beatty in the winner’s circle, “but this is a good looking mare who seems to be at the top of her game right now.” Unfortunately, Beatty’s other entrant (B Threeseven) made a break nearing the three-quarter marker, which eliminated his chances of winning although he recovered nicely to come back for third.

Beatty co-owns Mary Mag Delene with Mazing Racing Stable. Her clocking was a new lifetime best.

The 10 mares who lined up for the Survivor Series final had survived two elimination heats which reduced the field from a group of 38 hopefuls. When the gate swung open, Rock The Baby and driver Josh Sutton sprinted to the front and then throttled back to a :28.3 opening panel. When favored Nice Trip (Tetrick) came calling early, Sutton decided it was his mare’s race to win or lose and pressed forward to a :56.4 halfway split. With Nice Trip still pressing on the outside, Rock The Baby still had the advantage as the pair sped past the three-quarter station in 1:25.2. In the stretch, the 5-year-old Rockin Image lass was able to pull away from the competition and triumphed handily in 1:54.4.

Rock The Baby was claimed for $6,000 from the first elimination heat of the Survivor Series by trainer Larry Finn and his partner Chad Stone. With a runner-up finish in the second elimination and her victory in the final, she produced a $11,250 return on investment in two weeks.