Dayton, OH — Up Front Flor Ida, the current Ohio Sires Stakes older pacing mares champion, turned in another gritty performance at Hollywood Dayton Raceway on Friday (Oct. 25), winning the featured $17,500 Open Mares Pace.

Up Front Flor Ida won the featured $17,500 Open Mares Pace. Conrad photo.

Driver Kayne Kauffman, who has guided the 4-year-old daughter of Woodstock to a majority of her ten seasonal victories, took no prisoners on this occasion. Despite firing to the front in :26.4, Kauffman asked Up Front Flor Ida to repel constant challenges throughout the remainder of the 1:52.3 mile.

After leaving longshot Youlookhot on the limb through middle fractions of :54.4 and 1:23.3, eventual runner-up and show finishers Rosemary Rose (Josh Sutton) and Allbeastnobeauty (Dan Noble) came charging through the stretch. But Up Front Flor Ida dug down deep and prevailed by a neck over the two betting favorites. She paid $11.80 as the public’s third choice.

Tim McKoy trains the winner for Kevin McKinney and Virginia McKoy. Her bankroll has grown to $170,800 in 2019 and almost $300,000 in her career.