Dayton, OH – Joelsyy Hanover (Tyler Smith) held off a game Timeisonmyside (Aaron Merriman) in the lane to take the $28,000 Open Pace on the Saturday (Nov. 1) card at Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway.
Smith had Joelsyy Hanover on his toes when the gates wings folded and grabbed the early lead from The Bird Dance N (Sam Widger).
The opening quarter went in :26.2 as the field of eight was in single file.
As the field passed the grandstand for the first time, Alta Revelry N (Jeremy Smith) was the first to move, providing cover for Timeisonmyside at the half-mile station in :55.
The pace picked up in the third quarter and Alta Revelry N stuck a head in front before the 1:21.2 three-quarter station.
Joelsyy Hanover battled back and fought off a passing lane challenge by Timeisonmyside to score the 1:50 mile by a head.
Alta Revelry N held on for third and St Lads Criminal (Mike Micallef) was fourth.
The 7-year-old gelded son of JK Endofanera is co-owned by trainer Jessica Millner and Andrew Coblentz.
Joelsyy Hanover has won two straight over the Dayton oval and secured his 28th career win.
Uncle Jord A and Sam Widger started the evening with a bang when the pair lit up the tote board with a $78.80 winner in the $16,000 starter allowance pace.
A trio of horses competed for the early lead, but it was The Devils Own N (Brett Miller) that led the field in the opening quarter in :26.1.
Treacherous Angel (Jeremy Smith) was able to flush G A Speed Expert (Trevor Smith) out of the pocket before the half mile in :54.3.
The Devils Own N was still a length clear at the three-quarters in 1:21.4, which is where Uncle Jord A was sixth with only one rival beat.
The field spun around the final turn, Uncle Jord A, a 10-year-old son of Rock N Roll Heaven, edged the tiring The Devils Own N by a length in 1:51.2 to pick up his 32nd career win.
Cheyenne Tuff (Chris Page) used a ground-saving trip to beat G A Speed Expert for fourth.
Brian Tatham trains the winner for Tatham Racing Stable.
Dayton Raceway returns to action on Tuesday (Nov. 4) with a 14-race card starting at 4 p.m.