Surreal Ideal stretched his open-class winning streak to 10 with a tight victory in the $38,889 Horses and Geldings Open Handicap Pace at Dayton Raceway on Saturday, Dec. 6.

After a four-horse scramble for early command, Diego N (Trace Tetrick) took the top and Better Is Nice (Tyler Smith) sat the pocket through the opening panels of :26 and :54.3. Surreal Ideal, who was assigned the outside post nine, left the pylons nearing the midway point for Brett Miller and was first-over for the back half, rolling up to flank the leader at the three-quarters in 1:22. Surreal Ideal then used a :27.4 final quarter to strike the front and gutted out a head victory over a late-closing Gorgeous Big Guy (Chris Page). Better Is Nice was a half-length back in third.

Vernon Beachy trains the winning seven-year-old gelded son of So Surreal-Jkmusicofthenite for 518 Group and Gitup Racing. Surreal Ideal has won 10 straight Opens, beating top pacers across four different tracks. He has won 41 times in 128 career outings. The win price was $6.40.

Hannah’s Treasure Chest wasn't listed in the program, but the charity was a big winner on the night thanks to the efforts of longshot Intrepid Ivy. The nine-year-old pacer was partnered with the Dayton-area charity, and his win meant that it received $10,000 USD Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association.

At the start of the $15,278 conditioned pace, Intrepid Ivy (Marc St. Louis Jr.) and Theheavyweightway (Trevor Smith) were engaged in a speed duel, stringing out the field to the quarter in :26.1, with Theheavyweightway in control. That gelding led past the half in :55.4 but was pressured by Manny (David Miller) down the backstretch to three-quarters in 1:23.4. When the leaders turned for home, Intrepid Ivy ducked into the passing lane and was able to nip a closing Tankalicious (Luke Plano) by a head and Theheavyweightway by a neck. The final time was 1:52.3.

Trainer Stacey Currie is the owner of the son of Always A Virgin-Iva Miracle, who won for the 24th time in 221 career starts. The gelding paid $57.80 to win.

Hannah’s Treasure Chest is a charity that provides essential items to children in need, giving care packages to local families. It was founded in 2001 and now has eight employees and more than 75 volunteers.

Drivers Dave Miller and Brett Miller recorded driving triples on the 14-race card.

Racing returns to the Dayton oval on Tuesday with a 4 p.m. post time.

(With files from Dayton Raceway)