Lebanon, OH – Miami Valley Raceway opened its ninth season of live racing on Monday (Jan. 3) afternoon with Pick Me Upper (Tony Hall) capturing the featured $30,000 Open Trot.

The 5-year-old son of Trixton, trained by Junior Haynes, bested Delilah Seelster (Trace Tetrick) and Street Gossip (Brett Miller), while slight favorite Refined (Mitch Cushing) and Tipsy In Dixie (Tyler Smith) picked up the other paychecks.

Pick Me Upper picked up the first feature race triumph on Miami Valley’s Opening Day program. Conrad photo.

It was the 12th win in the last year for Pick Me Upper, who earned less than $8,000 as a juvenile, but exploded on the top trotting scene in 2021. He is owned by Nathan Cookerham.

The time of 1:53.4, although there were a dozen pacing races on the 14-race program, was the second fastest of the day, due to a track that needs more horses to go over it after an eight-month period of inactivity.

Racing resumes on Tuesday (Jan. 4) afternoon at Miami Valley with the usual 4:05 p.m., post time.