Dayton, OH – On the eve of “The Game” – the Michigan vs. Ohio State football game – fans looking for a hunch bet, surely found What A Buckeye, a Friday night (Nov. 28) winner at Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway.
At the start of the $14,000 conditioned trot, Nikki Strikes (Pat Curtin) outsprinted What A Buckeye and set the fractions of :27.3 and :57.1.
Just past the three-quarters in 1:25.4, driver Tyler Smith pulled What A Buckeye out of the pockets and sprinted home in :29 to record the three-length win in 1:55.
Nikki Strike was second and Jurassic Jewel (Brett Miller) held off a charging Gotta Have Rhythm (Luke Hanners) for third.
What A Buckeye, a sophomore son of What The Hill, is co-owned by Anthony Miller and trainer Herman Hagerman.
The win was his first of the season in 23 seasonal starts.
Ohio State fans hope for more success by the pigskin Buckeyes on Saturday afternoon.
In the first division of the co-featured $18,000 condition claiming pace, Mctorious (Trevor Smith) scored a mild upset in defeating Bars And Note (Chris Page) and ending the five-race win streak of Odds On Mad Hatter (Luke Hanners).
Mctorious and Odds On Mad Hatter found themselves in an early tussle and Trevor Smith elected to put the eventual winner into the pocket and Bars And Notes in third before the opening panel in :27.2.
Their positions remained unchanged past the half-mile station in :56.
Bars And Notes was flushed out of the three-hole before the three-quarters in 1:23.3 and applied pressure on the outside.
Mctorious went into the passing lane and nipped Bars And Notes and Odds On Mad Hatter in 1:52.
Jeff Smith trains the 5-year-old gelded son of McArdle for John Van Horn and the Down The Lane Stables.
Mctorious returned $16.40 to win for his backers.
Driver Chris Page recorded four wins during the 14-race card.
Racing continues Saturday (Nov. 29) at Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway. Free past performance pages are available at www.hollywooddaytonraceway.com.