Lebanon, OH – Nuclear Dragon, a 10-year-old warrior with 41 wins and over $569,000 in earnings, put his versatility on full display the past three weeks by sweeping the Fourth Annual Bill Dailey Memorial Medley series Monday (March 14) at Miami Valley.

Nuclear Dragon completed a sweep of the Bill Dailey Memorial Medley winning the 1-1/4 mile final in 2:20.3. Conrad photo.

After setting a World Record of 1:07 in a first leg 5/8ths mile dash, he scored an eight-length 1:51.4 triumph at a mile in leg two. With the championship contested at a distance of 1-1/4 miles, Nuclear Dragon was dispatched by the public as the 1-2 favorite and did not disappoint. After a brief two-hole tuck going to the quarter in :27.1, the diminutive favorite and regular reinsman Jeremy Smith reassumed command as the field passed before the grandstand the first time and reached the half-mile mark in :54.1.

Letting his charge pace on Smith stopped the next two timing stations in 1:22.3 and 1:50.4 as announcer Barry Vicroy got increasingly excited and the buzz in the grandstand grew. Holding all challengers at bay, Nuclear Dragon crossed the finish in 2:20.3, just four-fifths of a second off the World Record taken by Boulder Creek at Dover Downs in 2006.

Later Dudes (Chris Page) was a half-length back of Nuclear Dragon at the end, but was placed third for a pylon violation. Big Booty Rudy (Trace Tetrick) crossed the line third, but was placed second. Nuclear Dragon paid $3 to win, but the $2 exacta returned a healthy $37.40.

I Know My Chip holds off Pass The Vape and Pure Chance to win the $30,000 Open Trot at Miami Valley. Conrad photo

A $30,000 Open Trot resulted in an upset ($31.40) when I Know My Chip (Tyler Smith) popped the pocket at the head of the stretch and stormed to a 1:54.2 tally. Favored Pass The Vape (Dan Noble) was the place finisher and Pure Chance (Sam Widger) went a game trip on the front end before finishing third.

Junior Haynes trains the Ohio-sired son of Deep Chip for owners Brian Carsey and the Black & White Stable. It was the 51st lifetime win for I Know My Chip, who was bred by Bill and Kim Dailey, and has earnings approaching $1.2 million.

Smith’s win with Nuclear Dragon in the Dailey Memorial final was one of four on the day for the 42-year-old driver. Earlier on the program he put together a natural hat trick—three wins in a row—with Swapportunity (1:54.3, $58.40), Oberlin (1:52.3, $6.80) and Ponderingjacksfame (1:52.2, $6.20).

Racing resumes Tuesday (March 15) with a 14 race program at 4:05 p.m.