Dayton, OH – Heavy favorite Crazygirlsburnsage dug deep in the final strides and survived a three-way photo finish to set a new Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway track mark for freshman gelded pacers on Tuesday (Nov. 3).
Sent off as the heavy favorite in the $14,500 conditioned pace, Crazygirlsburnsage (Austin Hanners) received the first call from post 5, parking Ourcoltofmanycolor (Brewer Adams) during the first half-mile.
Crazygirlsburnsage controlled the tempo through fractions of :26.1, :53.2 and 1:21.2.
A pocket sitting Dancin Again (Chris Page) pressured the leader at the three-quarters and the pair raced in tandem around the final turn and into the stretch.
Crazygirlsburnsage nipped Dancin Again by a nose at the line. Go Pyromaniac (Cam McCown) dropped into the passing lane from mid-pack and closed strong to finish just a head back in third.
The final time was 1:51.1 is a new track and lifetime record.
The 2-year-old son of Perfect Sting is owned by Greg Luther Racing LLC and is conditioned by Todd Luther.
He was a bargain $12,000 purchase at last year’s Lexington Select Sale. With the win his career earnings jump to $82,965.
In the first of two divisions of the co-featured $20,000 conditioned claiming trot, Zidane Kemp turned in a sparkling performance drawing away from his rivals for an emphatic 11¼-length victory.
Driven by Luke Hanners and sent away as the heavy 4-5 favorite, Zidane Kemp raced near the front from the outset. Dusty Dungarees (Trevor Smith) blasted from post four to secure the early lead at the opening quarter in :28.
As the field of eight straighten up to pass the grandstand for the first time, Hanners pulled Zidane Kemp to the outside and the lead before the half-mile station in :56.4.
A fired-up Zidane Kemp quickly separated himself from the field, opening up by four lengths at the three-quarters in 1:24.2 and continued to widen his advantage through the stretch, sprinting home in :28.1 to stop the timer in 1:52.3.
Dusty Dungarees held on for second, while longshot Hey Trixey (Jeremy Smith) rallied from eighth at the half to finish third in a photo over Mr Pasadena (Brett Miller).
John Ryan Melsheimer trains the sophomore for the Mel Rose Stable.
The consistent Readly Express gelding has been first or second in half his 20 seasonal starts, banking $120,730 in 2026.
Drivers Jeremy Smith and Luke Hanners enjoyed a good night, visiting the winner’s circle three times each.
Racing continues at Dayton Raceway on Wednesday (Nov. 4) with a 14-race card.