Western Fame tuned up for the $150,000 Dayton Pacing Derby with a 1:48.1 performance when winning the $17,500 Open Handicap Pace at Hollywood Dayton Raceway on Saturday, Sept. 21.

The clocking was the second fastest in the six-year history of the southwest Ohio five-eighths mile oval.

Trainer-driver Dan Noble gunned the six-year-old son of Western Ideal towards the lead as soon as the starting car folded the wings, but it took a :25.3 first quarter to finally clear upset-minded Fan Of Terror and My Hero Ron. The winner then cruised through subsequent timing stations in :53.1 and 1:20.2 before tacking on a final :28 panel to subdue a mild late challenge from Fan Of Terror.

The victory was No. 23 for Western Fame from 64 starts and added to his $1.7 million career bounty. He is owned by Go Fast Stable, Stephen Klunowski of Ontario, B&I Stables LLC and Gil Short of Virginia.

In the rapidly approaching Dayton Pacing Derby, Western Fame will square off against Donttellmeagain, who owns the 1:47.4 quickest clocking in Dayton Raceway history taken in the track’s signature event in 2018. Among the stellar notable Grand Circuit pacing stars that are also eligible to the stakes event are This Is The Plan, McWicked, Courtly Choice, Endeavor, Miso Fast and others.

This coming Friday’s card will also include the $170,000 Dayton Trotting Derby whose list of eligible nominees reads like a "who's who" of the active older square-gaiter set.

Entries are due Monday morning (Sept. 23) for the Dayton Derbies as well as the strongest undercard of the season.

(Dayton Raceway)