Dayton, OH — No Foolin April used a gate-to-wire effort from Jeremy Smith to score a narrow win in the $28,000 Fillies and Mares Open Pace on Thursday (Oct. 23) at Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway.
When the compact field of five was sent on its way, No Foolin April grabbed the lead and passed the opening quarter in :26.4.
A lack of a challenge allowed the eventual winner a :29.3 second-quarter breather.
Trevor Smith sent Shadows Dancers first-up to apply pressure on the leader, with Odds On Cinamon (Austin Hanners) using the cover.
The field passed the three-quarter-mile pole in 1:23.3.
Dragon By The Sea (Tyler Smith) pocked out of the pocket and unleashed her final challenge, but came up a neck short in 1:51.4.
Odds On Cinamon edged Hey Hey Mama (Luke Hanners) by a neck to secure third.
The 4-year-old daughter of Nob Hill High has won three straight for breeder/owner/trainer Adam Short.
In the $24,000 Fillies and Mares Open II Pace, Foxy Hill (Luke Hanners) used a solid first-up effort to secure her second seasonal win in 1:52.4.
A quintet of pacers tried for the early lead, but favorite Trick Of The Light (Chris Page) rated the mile with :26.4, :56.1 and 1:24.1 quarters.
Mossdale Lottee N (Jeremy Smith) flushed Hanners and Foxy Hill out of the three-hole, and the pair pressured the leader down the backstretch.
Foxy Hill took the lead around the final turn and came home in :28.2 to secure the three-quarter-length win.
A Girl That Twirls (Kayne Kauffman) used a passing lane move to edge Trick Of The Light and Mossdale Lottee N for second.
The 4-year-old Captaintreacherous mare is campaigned by Dana Parham’s Odds On Racing and conditioned by Virgil Morgan Jr.
Drivers Jeremy Smith and Chris Page continue their battle for leading driving honors. They both had driving triples on the card with Page holding a 52-51 edge overall.
Dayton Raceway returns to action on Friday (Oct. 24) with a 14-race card starting at 4 p.m.