Dayton, OH — Every superlative has been uttered about Atlanta over her illustrious career, and she lived up to all of them on Saturday (Oct. 3) winning the $175,000 Dayton Trotting Derby at Hollywood Dayton Raceway.

Atlanta sets a new track record of 1:51 at Dayton Raceway. Conrad photo.

Dispatched at even money, the 5-year-old daughter of Chapter Seven established a new Dayton Raceway track record of 1:51 by coming from behind for driver Yannick Gingras to wear down Manchego (Dexter Dunn) and then hold off runner up Lindy The Great (Andy Miller) and show finisher Crystal Fashion (Jordan Stratton).

Lindy The Great left with alacrity to hit the first quarter beam in :27.3 before yielding to Manchego who coasted through middle fractions of :56 and 1:23.3 on the lead. Atlanta got away fourth, moved up to third on the outside at the half, second in the outer flow at the three-quarters, then on even terms with Manchego around the final turn.

At the top of the lane, Manchego broke in stride, leaving little doubt about the outcome.

Ron Burke trains Atlanta for Crawford Farms, Bradley Grant and Howard Taylor. She has won half of her lifetime starts (24 out of 48) and banked $2,450,203.

Dayton Distaff Derby

Trainer Nancy Takter thought long and hard about giving Kissin In The Sand a week off after a convincing 1:49 win in the Milton Stake at Woodbine Mohawk outside Toronto last Saturday. But a change in plans, possibly caused by a realization that Hatfield Stables of Ohio co-owns the magnificent mare with Marvin Katz of Toronto, resulted in an epic battle with Shartin N and another 1:49 score in the $175,000 Dayton Distaff Derby on Saturday night.

Kissin In The Sand defeats Shartin N in the Dayton Distaff Derby. Conrad photo.

The 1:49 triumph equaled the Hollywood Dayton track record for older pacing mares, set three races earlier by Miss You N in a $25,000 Mares Open. Dexter Dunn was in the sulky behind both winning mares.

Shartin N (Tim Tetrick) set sail from the get go and cut all the fractions (:26.3, :54.2 and 1:21.2) before getting reeled in by Kissin In The Sand a few steps from the finish line. The winner was content to get away fourth and stayed in that spot until past the three-quarters marker, despite moving into the outer flow in second-over position before the halfway juncture. Caviart Ally (Andrew McCarthy) was third to cross the wire.

Kissin In The Sand was actually dispatched at odds of 4-5 over even money Shartin N and didn’t disappoint. The 5-year-old daughter of Somebeachsomewhere now sports 23 wins in 54 lifetime starts and boosted her career bounty to $1,470,594.