Dayton, OH – Surreal Ideal proved why he was the bettor’s choice despite an outside post going gate-to-wire to win the $30,000 Open Handicap Pace Saturday (Nov. 14) at Hollywood Gaming Dayton Raceway.
Leaving from post 9, driver Chris Page marched Surreal Ideal to the front and dictated the tempo through fractions of :27, :55.1, and 1:22.4.
Oakwood Heymiki IR (driven by Brett Miller) started the outer flow as the field came by the stands the first time.
David Miller pulled Higher Ground three-wide around the final turn, but Surreal Ideal uncorked a :26.4 final panel to stop the clock in 1:49.3, 2-1/4 lengths ahead of Higher Ground. A pocket sitting Bright Bet (Luke Hanners) used the ground saving trip to take third.
Vernon Beachy trains Surreal Ideal, an 8-year-old gelded son of So Surreal, for the 518 Group and Gitup Racing.
So Surreal won for the 47th time during his career and returned $5.20 to win as the lukewarm favorite.
It was a rough night for the punter’s top choices. The betting favorites were just 2-for-14 on the evening.
Brett Miller steered Seaside Sailing to the night’s biggest upset in the $12,000 Starter Allowance pace at 53-1.
Despite the outside post 9, Seaside Sailing was always near the lead and nipped One Rockin Wes (Chris Page) by a nose and the pacesetting Deleston (Luke Hanners) by a neck in 1:52.
The 5-year-old Downbytheseaside gelding returned $108.60 to his backers.
He is conditioned by Waylon Eubank for the partnership of Patrick Meldon and Brian Younkin.
Live racing will return to Dayton Raceway on Tuesday (Nov. 17).