Even money favourite The First Step captured the initial $25,000 Open Pace on Saturday (Sept. 25) at Hollywood Dayton Raceway, which opened its 70-day 2021 meet on Friday.

The five-year-old altered son of Betterthancheddar paced his mile in 1:51 over the five-eighths mile oval, returning a $4.20 win mutuel to his backers. It was one of four wins on the program for driver Chris Page.

Longshots American Dreamer (Josh Sutton, 19-1), Beyond Delight (Tyler Smith, 18-1) and One Corona To Go (Kayne Kauffman, 25-1) gave futile chase behind The First Step. It was the ninth seasonal victory in 31 starts for The First Step, who is owned by the Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi and Phil Collura.

In addition to Page’s four wins in the first 12 races, driver Josh Sutton notched a hat trick as did Tyler Smith, who followed up on his six win Friday with another trio of win circle visits on Saturday.

Hollywood Dayton is racing on a Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday schedule with regular 4:00 p.m. post time each day. An exception to the post time schedule will be next Saturday (Oct. 2) when the track’s signature marquee Dayton Derbies program will commence at 6:00 p.m. In addition to the $175,000 Dayton Pacing Derby, $175,000 Dayton Distaff Derby and $175,000 Dayton Trotting Derby the undercard will feature eight $75,000 Ohio Sires Stakes Consolation Finals and total purses of $1,300,000.

(Dayton)