Dayton, OH — Chalk bettors enjoyed the $18,000 Open Trot at Hollywood Dayton Raceway on Friday night (Nov. 23), while some others chasing longshots were rewarded in the co-featured $18,500 Mares Open Pace.

Pine Dream was one of four wins for driver Aaron Merriman on Friday as he closes in on his second straight 1,000 win season. Conrad photo.

Pine Dream was the repeat winner of the weekly top trot, scoring for driver Aaron Merriman in 1:53.3. The favorite paid $3.60 and gave Merriman his fourth victory on the night and 993rd on the year as he seeks to become the first reinsman in harness history to record back-to-back 1,000 win seasons.

The winning 6-year-old Kelly Chupp-trained gelding stopped the clock at every substation — the first in :27.2, then :55.4 and 1:23.4 before holding off runner-up All About Cowboys (Jason Brewer) and show finisher Primed N Powerful (Tyler Smith) in the stretch.

Pine Dream now sports 25 career victories in 102 starts, good for $186,867 in earnings. He is owned by Chupp Racing Stable of Illinois.

Endeavors Star, claimed a week ago for $29,000, stepped back into Open company and rewarded her new owner Jason Shumway of Ohio with an initial $9,250 return on his seven-day old investment.

Recently claimed Endeavors Star surprised the best Open Mares at Hollywood Dayton with a 1:52.2 score. Conrad photo.

New trainer Daniel Jones had the 4-year-old daughter of Keystone Endeavor ready to roll and first-time driver Dan Noble gave her a confident trip at 9-1 odds. Initially fourth along the pylons during the :27.1 opening panel, Noble moved Endeavors Star into second over position before the half was reached in :56.2.

The winner moved up to second on the outside by the third quarter in 1:24 and then out-dueled pacesetter Rockin Racer (Jared Finn) through the stretch. The final task was holding off favored Rosemary Rose (Chris Page), who made a furious late three-wide charge but could do no better than second in the 1:52.2 mile. Juslikeaqueen (Jeremy Smith) also closed well to gain a dead heat with Rockin Racer for third.

It was the 12th win of the year for Endeavors Star and raised her seasonal earnings to $118,780. She owns a 1:50.1 speed badge taken at Scioto Downs this summer.