Finishing last in the Canadian Pacing Derby after forcing a quick pace, Bettors Wish was poised by driver Dexter Dunn with a second-over trip and the pacer darted to the lead late to score in the $176,500 Dayton Pacing Derby on Saturday (Oct. 3) at Dayton Raceway.

Backstreet Shadow shot for the front from the pylon post in a three-wide prong battling for the lead. Ocean Rock, carried widest, eventually crossed to the cones to take the lead past a :26 first quarter with Century Farroh securing the pocket and Backstreet Shadow settling into third. Sectionline Bigry angled first over as the tempo slowed to a :54.2 half tracked by Bettors Wish second over and Dancin Lou third over.

Up the backstretch Sectionline Bigry drew closer to Ocean Rock speeding to three-quarters in 1:21.1 as Dunn wound Bettors Wish three wide around the final turn. Sectionline Bigry and Ocean Rock tired into the stretch, passed by a fresh-legged charge led by Bettors Wish. Dancin Lou dashed from third over for place with Century Farroh shaking loose late from the pocket to rally for show.

“On paper it looked like there was going to be a bit of speed early,” Dunn said after the race. “Bettors Wish, he just had the one qualifier, so we weren’t going to hurt him too bad tonight but the trip worked out perfect. He just did what he’s been doing the last few years [and] got the job done.”

A four-year-old stallion by Bettors Delight, Bettors Wish won his third race from eight starts this season and his 21st from 39 overall, earning $2,213,033 for trainer and co-owner Chris Ryder along with partners Fair Island Farm and Bettors Wish Partners. He paid $5.80 to win.

Atlanta vaulted off cover as Manchego gave way and broke in stride, leaving the Ron Burke trainee alone as she ripped to a track-record 1:51 win in the $175,000 Dayton Trotting Derby.

Lindy The Great lunged for the lead while Manchego slowly advanced towards the front, clearing command by a :27.3 first quarter. Manchego softened the tempo as Majestic Player A pulled first over from fourth, supplying cover to Atlanta by a :56 half. Up the backstretch Majestic Player A inched to within a length of leader and pressed Manchego to three-quarters in 1:23.3 with Atlanta rolling three wide into the final turn. Atlanta swept by Manchego into the stretch and blew clear of her competition, winning by open lengths over Lindy The Great in second with Crystal Fashion closing down the center of the track for third and Pure Chance snagging fourth.

“I have all the respect in the world for Manchego -- and I knew she may get loose on the lead -- but Atlanta can trot off of cover as fast as a pacer,” winning driver Yannick Gingras said after the race. “I just wanted to trip her out—if I was able to reach, I was going to reach. I think she definitely likes it better that way. It’s a long year, so I just wanted to make sure I gave her the trip she wanted.”

Owned by Crawford Farms Racing, Brad Grant and Howard Taylor, Atlanta scored her fourth win from nine starts this season and her 24th from 48 overall, earning $2,450,203. The five-year-old Chapter Seven mare paid $4.00 to win.

Soaring off cover at the top of the stretch, 4-5 favourite Kissin In The Sand downed divisional champ Shartin N approaching the pole to win the $175,000 Dayton Distaff Derby.

The five-year-old Somebeachsomewhere mare floated off the car to race fourth while Shartin N shot to the lead and took the field by the quarter in :26.3. Driver Dexter Dunn began to edge Kissin In The Sand off the pylons moving for the second turn, prompting Caviart Ally to pull first over from third and march towards the pacesetter approaching a :54.2 half.

Shartin N accelerated into the backstretch and kept Caviart Ally at her wheel. The even-money second choice motored to three-quarters in 1:21.2 as Kissin In The Sand fanned three wide straightening for the finish and Caviart Ally veered towards the pylons. Kissin In The Sand launched down the center of the track through the stretch after Shartin N and slid by the pacesetter to score a narrow win in 1:49, equaling the track record for an aged pacing mare.

“I’ve raced against that great mare [Shartin N] plenty of times and just struggled to get close to her,” winning driver Dexter Dunn said after the race. “This mare, she’s really at the top of her form at the moment. Nancy [Takter] said she just likes the colder weather a little more, just a little better for her body.”

Winning her fourth race from eight starts this season and her 23rd from 54 overall, Kissin In The Sand has earned $1,470,594 for owners Marvin Katz and Hatfield Stables. Nancy Takter trains the $3.80 winner.

Stars Align A sped around the oval to equal the all-age track record at Dayton Raceway in the $75,000 Dayton Derby Consolation. The seven-year-old Art Major stallion slid to the top moving to a :26.2 first quarter and continued to roll uncontested to a :53.3 half. Dan Noble began to urge the Christi Noble trainee up the backside as he gained separation to three-quarters in 1:20.1 and strolled through the stretch to a four-length victory in 1:48.1. The $24.20 winner competes for owners D Racing Stable Inc., Yves Sarrazin and Bruce Soulsby.