[Rduke55]

It's a benign looking flop. If we are ahead then why not try to get it now instead of if something like a K comes on the turn?
And since so many cards improve our hand I'd like to keep control of the pot because otherwise say an offsuit Q comes and MJ bets the pot or close to it?
Betting here 1) may take it down now, 2) may get us a free card or at least slow down opponents on the turn.