Closing week in December always brings big handles at Dayton Raceway, and the card on Thursday, Dec. 28 was no exception.

Dayton’s faithful bettors were out in full force for the final Thursday of the meet, wagering an all-time Dayton record of $1.286 million. This was just the second million-dollar night in Dayton’s history with the first coming last year when Dayton hosted the Ohio Super Night for the first time. Dayton Raceway thanks the bettors, the fans and the horsepeople for helping make this happen.

As for the racing action on tonight’s record-setting card, Jeremy Smith continued his hot hand by taking five races over the night, and amazingly enough for Dayton’s leading driver, none of them were with favourites. He started off by sweeping the early double with Salty Robyn N ($5) for trainer Antonia Storer and Unlikeanyother ($6.80) for trainer Tessa Perrin. He continued with an upset winner in the featured Open Handicap with Barrys Berries (pictured above, $29).

Brookville Bullet left hard from post four to take the field past the opening quarter in :26.1. Favourite Tellmeaboutit, with Sam Widger, then rushed up to take command past a half in :54.2. By that time, Smith was first over and pressuring for the lead as they raced noses apart past three-quarters in 121.2. As they duelled down the stretch, Barrys Berries inched ahead in deep stretch to win by a nose in 1:50. It was his first win of the year in the Steve Carter barn since his recent claim.

Smith picked up his fourth win, and second of the night for trainer Steve Carter, with Beyond Delight ($11) in the seventh. He didn’t wait long for number five as he picked it up in the next race, this time with Always At My Place ($14.80) for trainer Larry Finn for a collective total of $66.60 on his winners for the night.

Dayton will be back in action Friday and Saturday night with its final two cards of the year. First post time, as always, is at 4 p.m.

(Dayton Raceway)