Surreal Ideal made a first-over move to defeat seven rivals in the $39,437 Horses and Geldings Open Handicap Pace on Saturday, Nov. 22 at Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway, securing his ninth straight victory.

Assigned the outside post eight, Surreal Ideal (Brett Miller) left sharply to find a seat in fourth as Saulsbrook Victor (Brett MacDonald) went past Joelsyy Hanover (Tyler Smith) to lead to the quarter in :26. Surreal Ideal left rail from fourth before the half in :54.1 and was within a length of the leader at the three-quarters in 1:21.2. They went to war around the last turn, with Surreal Ideal muscling past a pesky Saulsbrook Victor in the stretch to record a half-length win in 1:49. Joelsyy Hanover was third.

Vernon Beachy trains Surreal Ideal for the partnership of 518 Group LLC and Gitup Racing. The seven-year-old So Surreal-Jkmusicofthenite gelding has won nine Open-level events in a row and is now 40-for-127 lifetime. He paid $3.20 to win.

Two races earlier, Rockabilly Rebel N used a gate-to-wire effort for driver Luke Hanners to win the $30,986 conditioned pace in 1:51.

Rockabilly Rebel N timed the gate to shoot to the front and rebuffed Bettor Than Spring (MacDonald) for control to the quarter in :26. The bettors' choice, Later Dudes (Chris Page), rushed up to pressure Rockabilly Rebel N at the half in :55. Later Dudes eclipsed the pacesetter nearing the three-quarters in 1:22.3, but he was unable to clear and faded back through the field. Rockabilly Rebel N then resisted a host of challenges down the lane to win by a half-length. Midnight Rocker (Brett Miller) came out second in a five-across finish, with Hazardos (Sam Widger) third.

Rockabilly Rebel N improved his career record to 24-for-106. Jason Irwin trains the eight-year-old son of A Rocknroll Dance-Judy Jetson for Robert Weinstein. The win price was $13.40.

Racing returns to Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway on Tuesday, Nov. 25.

(Dayton Raceway; photo of Surreal Ideal winning on Nov. 15)