It took four tries to find the winner’s circle since shipping from the east coast to Ohio, but Classicist broke through on Friday at Hollywood Dayton.

Benefitting from a pocket ride behind co-favourite Alexa Skye, driver Chris Page popped the pocket at the head of the stretch and collared the pacesetter in 1:51.4. Rose Run Vision was a creditable show finisher in the weekly distaff feature.

Classicist paid $6.40 for her first local win. It was the fifth seasonal victory for the four-year-old daughter of Captaintreacherous and the 13th of her career. The winner now has a lifetime bankroll of $332,952, more than $164,000 of that amount earned in 2022.

Eric Good of Denton, Maryland owns Classicist and entrusted the training to the sport’s leading trainer Ron Burke when he shipped her to Ohio.

Racing resumes on Friday (Dec. 30) at Hollywood Dayton, the 69th and final program of a successful season. 

The features on the card include a $24,000 Auld Lang Syne Open Pace, the $12,000 Lamar Moody Memorial for $15,000 claimers, a Good Old Boys pace for bottom claimers — which includes a pair of 14-year-olds making their final career starts after earning more than $370,000 each, and a “must win” proposition of the $1 Pick 8 wager with an enticing carryover of $22,322.

Post time is 4 p.m. (EST).

(Hollywood Dayton Raceway)