Driver Brett Miller steered Surreal Ideal to a fifth consecutive top-level victory in the the $39,437 Horses and Geldings Open Handicap Pace at Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway on Saturday, Oct. 18, one of six trips to the winner's circle for the reinsman.

The pair was assigned the outside post eight and dropped into fifth as The Bird Dance N (Jeremy Smith) received the first call in an opening quarter of :25.4. Hezzz A Wise Sky (Sam Widger) then took over in front of the stands and led to the half in :54.2. Downbytheocean (Josh Sutton) led an emerging outer flow as they turned for the backstretch with Surreal Ideal third-over behind Humble A (Tyler Smith) on the way to three-quarters in 1:21.3. 

Downbytheocean took the front nearing the final turn but was confronted by a three-wide Surreal Ideal, who worked past the leader and held off the closing Rick Wink (Chris Page) and Crunch Time A (Trevor Smith) by a half-length to prevail in 1:49.4. Rick Wink and Crunch Time A crossed the line simultaneously, but the latter was disqualified for interference on the final turn and placed sixth. Downbytheocean was elevated into the top three.

Surreal Ideal has now won five straight Opens across three different tracks for trainer Vernon Beachy. The seven-year-old son of So Surreal-Jkmusicofthenite is six-for-21 this season for owners 518 Group LLC and Gitup Racing. The gelding won for the 36th time in 123 career starts and grew his bankroll to $606,949. He paid $4.20 to win.

Miller picked up his other victories on the 14-race card with Tellitlikeiseeit ($4.60), Fox Valley Monaco ($15.80), The Devils Own N ($6.40), Pullingthestrings ($6.20), and Midnight Rocker ($11.20). The Saturday haul moved him closer to the front in the drivers' standings; he is now six wins behind leader Jeremy Smith, who doubled on the evening to pull one win clear of second-placed Chris Page.

Three of the six — Tellitlikeiseeit, The Devils Own N, and Midnight Rocker — came from the barn of trainer Steve Carter, who had a triple. The conditioner has tallied 185 wins this season and is clicking at a 17.9 per cent rate.

Alta Revelry N, driven by Jeremy Smith, went from worst-to-first in the final quarter-mile to record a 1-3/4-length victory in the $33,803 Horses and Geldings Open II Handicap Pace. The lead was exchanged a couple of times in the opening half, with Twin B Seamonster (Page) on top at the quarter in :26.4 and Pj Lou (Miller) in front at the half in :55.1. Pj Lou kept the lead to the three-quarters in 1:22, where Alta Revelry N started his chase from ninth. Using a :26.4 kicker, Alta Revelry N closed from 9-1/2 lengths back to defeat the tiring Pj Lou in 1:50.3. Rockabilly Rebel N (Luke Hanners) finished third.

Antonia Storer trains Alta Revelry N, a New Zealand-bred son of Sunshine Beach-Alta Michaela, for JMF Racing LLC. The seven-year-old boosted his career totals to 27 wins and $313,210 in earnings in 100 starts. He is nine-for-33 this year. The win payout was $15.

Dayton Raceway will host its next card on Tuesday, Oct. 21 with a 14-race card starting at 4 p.m.

(Dayton Raceway)