Dayton, OH — It hasn’t been a year to brag about for the classy veteran pacer Missile J, but on Saturday (Nov. 16) his back class prevailed in Hollywood Dayton Raceway’s $16,500 Open Pace. The 6-year-old son of American Ideal won for just the third time in 18 seasonal starts—earning $48,955—but the 1:51.2 score was his 26th in his career and boosted his lifetime bounty to $831,902.

Missile J returns to the winner’s circle on Saturday night at Hollywood Dayton Raceway. Conrad photo.

Dispatched at 10-1 odds, Missile J (Jeremy Smith) was content to get away fourth from the rail until launching a first-over attack just after the halfway juncture. After lapping in on the odds-on favorite, Tookadiveoffdipper (Brett Miller), at the three-quarter mile marker, the winner tacked on a :27.1 final panel to sail to victory by 1-1/2 lengths. Tookadiveoffdipper did hang in for the place finish while Fools Desire (Kayne Kauffman) took advantage of a pocket ride to garner the show dough.

Walter Haynes Jr. trains Missile J for the Indiana partnership of Jeff Fought, Brian Carsey, Dave Fought and Chris Myers.

“Missile J is a funny horse,” explained Haynes following the race. “You have to keep his attention or he’ll take off galloping, but when you keep his mind on business he is wicked fast.”