Dayton, OH — Despite an assigned outside post and an overland journey that never got the benefit of skimming a pylon, even money shot Party At The Banks captured the $17,500 Open Handicap Trot at Hollywood Dayton Raceway on Thursday night (Sept. 26).

Party At The Banks captured the $17,500 Open Handicap Trot at Hollywood Dayton Raceway on Thursday night. Conrad photo.

With regular driver Chris Page taking a weekend off to get married, trainer Ron Burke handed the lines of the 5-year-old mare to Josh Sutton and the talented daughter of Break The Bank K responded with a 1:54.3 triumph, her tenth of the season and 24th lifetime.

Getting away eighth in the bulky ten horse field, Sutton was content to travel fourth over through fractions of :27.3, :56.2 and 1:24.4 before swinging three wide around the final turn and eventually collaring the pace-setting runner-up Pine Dream (Dan Noble) in the final two strides. Tugboat Tuffy (Brett Miller), a 3-year-old son of Break The Bank K, got up for third.

Racing resumes Friday night (Sept. 27) at Hollywood Dayton featuring the $171,250 Dayton Trotting Derby and the $151,750 Dayton Pacing Derby.