Miami Valley: Little Rocket Man prevails in Mindlin Memorial Invitational
?q=100)
Little Rocket Man improved his record to three-for-three in 2025 with a 1:49 3/5 victory in the $100,000 Pacey "The Wizard" Mindlin Memorial Invitational for older male pacers on Saturday afternoon at Miami Valley Raceway.
Saulsbrook Victor (Brett MacDonald) worked his way by PJ Lou (Brett Miller) for the lead on the first turn and would cut out fractions of 26 2/5, 55 and 1:22 3/5, but Little Rocket Man (Jeremy Smith), who began a first-over bid out of fifth before the half, wore down Saulsbrook Victor on the final bend and went on to score by a length and a half. PJ Lou got shuffled back a bit in the pocket but had pace in the lane after he was able to tip out and ended up second, followed by Bythemissal (Chris Page).
A 9-year-old Rockin Image gelding, Little Rocket Man is trained by Ken Rucker for owners Russell Beeman and Jack Freeman. Little Rocket Man picked up his 71st career win, has now earned $1,762,529 and paid $2.40 to win.
► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter
Four $75,000 James M. Hackett Memorials for 3-year-old Ohio-sired trotters and pacers of both sexes were also held on the program.
Trainer Chris Beaver finished 1-2 in the filly trot as Mega Money (Aaron Merriman) held off Triump Over You (Dan Noble) in a 1:56 1/5 mile. Both fillies are by Triumphant Caviar.
In the filly pace, The Word Is Out (Chris Page), a daughter of Well Said trained by Ron Burke, rallied in the passing lane to get up and win by half a length in 1:52 4/5.
Lt Loverboy (Brett Miller) front-stepped his way to a 1:53 1/5 victory in the colt and gelding trot. Lt Loverboy, a gelding by Long Tom, is trained by Daren Harvey and was last year's Ohio Sires Stakes champion for the group.
The colt and gelding pace saw Lather Up gelding Up Again (Noble) defeat a three-horse Burke-trained entry that included world champion Sippinonsearoc and Breeders Crown elim winner Swingtown. Up Again, who is trained by Christi Noble, delivered from first-over in 1:50 4/5.