The amateur drivers from the Great Lakes Amateur Drivers Association returned to Dayton Raceway on Saturday (Oct. 31) for a $7,700 trot, and when the judges hung the official sign Steve Oldford emerged victorious after he guided A Royal Line to a 1:57 victory over six others.

“Before the race I thought I had a decent chance to win it although Gregg (Keidel) had the odds on favorite,” Oldford said. “But he had trouble at the start and his horse never really became a factor.”

When the gate folded Alesha Binkley gunned Try Try Again to the lead as Oldford settled in the two-hole behind her. They raced one-two all the way to the top of the lane before anyone seriously challenged the leaders.

“I sat still and followed her (Alesha) even though there were a few horses trying to move up from the back of the pack,” Oldford said. “And it worked out just right as she carried me all the way to the top of the stretch.”

When the field headed for paydirt there were three horses heads apart, but Oldford slipped off the pylons in time to collar Binkley. Try Try Again held on for second money and a neck farther back in third was K' Love, in rein to Darrell Rideout.

A Royal Line, a four-year-old altered son of Royalty For Life, is owned by Oldford Racing LLC, and trained by Terry Deters.

Next week the series moves back to The Meadows

(GLADA)