Lebanon, OH – Scares Me and Tell’s Super Star each took a division of the $22,000 N/w10pm claimer at Miami Valley on Monday night (March 23), although with very different methods and backing.
In the early division, Scares Me, the heavy 1-2 favorite, fired off the wings and quickly took command to lead the field past an opening quarter in :28.1 Facing no pressure until the backside, Scares Me led them through a half in :56.1, a well rated second quarter. As Scares Me pointed towards three quarters, a first over Stars Over Sydney began to close in, getting to within a half near the three quarters in 1:24.2, but from there on out it was nothing but Scares Me who put the fear into the field, opening up and drawing away to win by six lengths in 1:52.1. Stars Over Sydney fought gamely to hold for second from a late moving Odds On Mad Hatter.
For Scares Me, it was his fourth win on the year in nine starts, winning every other start since January 27 for leading trainer Ron Burke. In order to repeat next week, he’ll have to do it from a new barn as he was claimed tonight by Steve Carter.
In the second division, different tactics were used by race winner Tell’s Super Star. Sent off by the betting public at 53-1, Tell’s Super Star was ducked off the wings from post three and settled in eighth as a battle ensued up front with horses two, three and four wide at different points going to the quarter. As the field went past the opening quarter in :27.3, Don’t Tell Rosa finally cleared but was under immediate pressure from an outer flow that never saw the pylons, led by Rockinpoppin. As the duo battled nose to nose to a half in :55, heavy 1-9 favorite Whatchagonnado was trapped in the pocket while Tell’s Super Star was just moving into the outer flow, forth over. As the field neared three quarters (1:23.4), Don’t Tell Rosa began paying for the early speed dual and called it a day, taking with him race favorite Whatchagonnado.
Rockinpoppin cleared for the lead in the final turn but was also under immediate pressure from Sinatra Hanover who had gone three wide around a second over Checkers Legacy, dragging Tell’s Super Star along with him. At the top of the stretch, Rockinpoppin had stepped away by two lengths, but Tell’s Super Star ws flying on the outside and got up to win by three quarters of a length in 1:52.4. Rockinpoppin held for second while Checkers Legacy was third.
For Tell’s Super Star, who was making his 2026 Miami Valley debut, it was his first win of the year and his seventh lifetime tally. He was perfectly placed by Trevor Smith for trainer Gerald Miller.
David Miller and Tyler Smith led all drivers with a triple each, while every other winning driver on the card ended with a double.
Miami Valley resumes racing on Tuesday (March 24) at 4 p.m.