Two elimination heats went postward on Thursday night to determine the field for next week’s 'Stars of the Future' mini-series championship.
The trotters that answered the starter’s call at Hollywood Dayton Raceway in the pair of $4,000 eliminations were all non-winners of a pari-mutuel race; however, two emerged as winners and earned roles as likely favorites for the $8,000 final next Thursday.
Jailhouse Hooch (Dan Noble) captured the first split in 1:59.1 to top Hey Pancho (Kayne Kauffman) and Autumn Estelle (Hugh Beatty). The winner, a lightly raced five-year-old son of Jailhouse Jesse, broke his maiden in his 19th lifetime start for owners Cynthia and Nancy Zirkle and trainer David Myers. In addition to the place and show finishers, Timeflies So Do I (Josh Sutton) and Big Emotions (Greg Grismore), who was the fastest fifth place finisher in the two heats, advanced to the championship.
Nanohio (driver-trainer Tom Moore Jr.) won the second division in 2:01.1, reaching the wire ahead of Dunn Dealin (Ryan Holton), Kasi (Kayne Kauffman) and Miko Begonia (Jason Haynes), who will join the first elimination survivors in the final. The winning son of Chip Chip Hooray had triumphed in a pair of earlier county fair races, but visited a commercial track winner’s circle for the first time for owners Arthur Erford and Kenneth Phillips on Thursday night.
Through the first 18 nights of live racing at the new Dayton Raceway, Chris Page sat atop the driver’s standings with 34 victories. Dan Noble and Josh Sutton were tied for second with 25 triumphs apiece. Randy Tharps and Greg Grismore were deadlocked for fourth with 20 each, followed by Jeremy Smith 19, Kayne Kauffman and Jason Brewer 17, and Kyle Ater 13.
Hollywood Dayton Raceway presents live programs every Monday and Wednesday through Saturday at 6:30 p.m.
(Dayton)