Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway hosted another victory for one of the Midwest’s best open pacers and honoured one of the area’s greats on Saturday, Nov. 15.

Surreal Ideal scored his eighth straight win in the $39,437 Horses and Geldings Open Handicap Pace, highlighting a five-win day for driver Brett Miller. There was a four-wide scramble for the early lead, but Surreal Ideal, leaving from post nine, pressed forward and was parked three-wide in the opening quarter in :26 to make the front. He had no real pressure in the second quarter, allowing for a :28.2 breather to the half in :54.2. 

Helium N (Tony Hall) was the first to pull, providing live cover for Timeisonmyside (Anthony MacDonald) to three-quarters in 1:22.1, with Timeisonmyside swinging three-wide before that point to march on the leader. But the winning seven-year-old gelded son of So Surreal-Jkmusicofthenite showed his toughness and scored the one-length win in 1:49.4. Timeisonmyside held off the closing pocket-sitter Joelsyy Hanover (Tyler Smith) for second.

Surreal Ideal has won eight consecutive Open-level races across four different tracks, including a Free For All at Woodbine Mohawk Park against a stacked field. Vernon Beachy trains the winner for the 518 Group LLC and Gitup Racing. The gelding is now 39-for-126 lifetime with a bankroll of $691,773. He paid $3.80 to win.

Following the race, 13-year-old warrior My Hero Ron was celebrated in a winner’s circle retirement ceremony, during which his shoes were pulled for the final time. The son of Well Said-Erma La Em made 367 career starts, with 63 of them winning ones, and he earned $1.46 million and took a mark of 1:49.1 at Eldorado Scioto Downs. He has been owned by Brian Witt since March 2019.

Steve Carter tripled on the 14-race card, combining with Miller to win with Creekside Johnny ($3.80), Win Lous Or Draw ($19.40), and Downbythedanceclub ($4.80). The trio of wins reduced the gap in the trainers' standings to two, with Carter trailing leader Ron Burke 28-26. The trainer has tallied 204 victories across all tracks this year, his second-best total on record.

Miller also drove the Paul Holzman-trained Terminator ($4.60) to a win in the eighth race. The reinsman is 316-for-2,359 this season.

Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway will hold its next card on Tuesday, Nov. 18.

(With files from Dayton Raceway)