Dayton, OH — A new winner emerged in the weekly $17,500 Open Trot at Hollywood Dayton Raceway on Thursday night (Dec. 12), as Signal Hill (Shawn Barker II) topped Walter White (Jeremy Smith) and Whata Swan (John DeLong) in 1:54.

Signal Hill posted a mild upset from the pocket in Thursday’s top trot at Hollywood Dayton Raceway. Benjamin Holton photo.

The 5-year-old son of Muscle Hill left alertly, yielded to Walter White early, and then benefitted from a pocket ride until mid-stretch, when he pounced on the frontrunner and coasted to a comfortable victory.

It was the fifth seasonal triumph for Signal Hill, but his first in Open company. Owned by Serenity Racing Stables and trained by Danny Collins, the winner now sports 10 wins in 41 career starts and his lifetime bounty has swelled to $143,016.

Racing resumes Friday night (Dec. 13) at Hollywood Dayton, featuring the eight-race “Buckeye Battle” pitting five of Northfield Park’s top drivers versus a quintet of Hollywood Dayton’s best to benefit the Greater Dayton Disaster Relief Fund.