from Hollywood Dayton Raceway

Dayton, OH — The Dayton Derbies, a pair of $150,000 Grand Circuit events, brought most of the best older horses in North America to Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway on Friday night (Sept. 28) producing an outstanding night of racing. The action resulted in four track records, including new all-age overall standards on both gaits in the two featured events.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Donttellmeagain obliterated the all-time fastest mile ever clocked at Dayton Raceway, speeding to a 1:47.4 victory in the Dayton Pacing Derby.

Donttellmeagain (Tim Tetrick) obliterated the all-time fastest mile ever clocked at the 5-year-old Dayton Raceway, speeding to a 1:47.4 victory in the Dayton Pacing Derby.

The old record was 1:48.4, a full second slower, established by State Treasurer in the 2015 Derby. Other previous winners are Clear Vision, Wiggleit Jiggleit and Rockin Ron.

Western Fame (Brett Miller) gunned directly to the front in the Pacing Derby, speeding to the quarter in :25.2, seating Split The House (Scott Zeron) — who left with authority from the outermost post position — in the pocket. Shortly thereafter, Tetrick moved favored Donttellmeagain to the front to stay through subsequent fractional times of :52.3 and an eye-popping 1:20. A final panel in :27.4 resulted in a 1-1/4 length tally over Western Fame and McWicked (Brian Sears), who had a long overland grind the final half-mile.

“This horse isn’t real big, but he’s a real professional,” said Tetrick. “I’ve liked him since he was a baby…and the trainer (Jim King Jr.) does a terrific job with him.”

The 4-year-old gelded son of Dragon Again is owned by Paton Racing Stables. He now sports 18 wins in 33 lifetime starts, good for $589,911 in earnings.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Ariana G lowered the overall track trotting record to 1:52.1 in winning the Dayton Trotting Derby.

Ariana G (Brian Sears), the only mare in a talented field for the Dayton Trotting Derby, lowered the overall track trotting record to 1:52.1 with an impressive triumph.

Sears was patient with Ariana G, allowing first I Know My Chip (Kayne Kauffman) and then eventual show finisher Guardian Angel AS (Matt Kakaley) to mix it up on the front end in :26.4 and then :54.4. Moving to the outer flow in second-over position, Ariana G moved up to fourth at the 1:23.1 three-quarters before besting a fast-closing Warrawee Roo (Daniel Dube) by a half-length in the record time.

“I knew they were trotting hard leaving the gate and I was content with my early position and those fractions,” Sears related in the winner’s circle. “Jimmy Takter (trainer) texted me that she was a versatile sweetheart, and he was definitely right.”

The 4-year-old winning daughter of Muscle Hill now has captured 26 of her 37 races and banked $2,367,709. She is owned by Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld.

Previous Dayton Trotting Derby winners were Market Share, Il Sogno Dream, Obrigado and Pasithea Face S.

A pair of $18,500 Opens on the undercard also produced new divisional track record holders.

Optimist Blue Chip (Jeremy Smith) forged to a 1:53.2 score in the Open Trot, matching the fastest mile by a 4-year-old male (Il Sogno Dream in the 2015 Derby).

Carol’s Z Tam (Sears) became the fastest 4-year-old pacing mare in Dayton’s brief history, stopping the timer in 1:51 in the Open Mares Pace.