No Foolin April, coming off two uncharacteristic last-place finishes after a one-month layoff, returned to winning ways with a gate-to-wire effort in the $38,889 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap Pace on Thursday, Dec. 11 at Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway.

When the field of eight was sent on its way, No Foolin April easily took command for Brett Miller and led at the quarter in :26.2 and half in :55. A headstrong Wild Rosa (Tyler Smith) was in the pocket and all over the back of the leader. Seaside Diva (Chris Page) started the outer flow and was just outside the top two at the three-quarters in 1:22.3. Wild Rosa gave chase in the lane, and Side Piece (Trace Tetrick) came onto the scene late, but No Foolin April reached the line a length clear in 1:51. Wild Rosa held second over Side Piece.

No Foolin April, a four-year-old Nob Hill High-Princess Baby Ella mare, is trained and owned by breeder Adam Short. She has won 15 of 51 career starts. The mare returned $17.80 to win for her backers.

In the $33,333 Fillies and Mares Open II Pace, Beautiful Seaside used a front-stepping trip from Trace Tetrick to record her 22nd career victory in 73 starts.

Beautiful Seaside and Jules Hill (Brett Miller) had a brief tussle for the lead, but Beautiful Seaside grabbed the front and was mostly untested in the fractions of :27.2, :55.4 and 1:23.2. Jules Hill angled out of the pocket and was able to close on the leader in the stretch, but Beautiful Seaside was a half-length to the good in 1:51.3 at the finish. Jules Hill was second, and Always In Flight (David Miller) finished third in a four-across finish.

The winning homebred daughter of Downbytheseaside-Your Beautiful is owned by Matt Rowe and trained by Logan Rowe. The five-year-old paid $3.60 to win.

Between the two Opens, Art Of Racing ($5) took her sixth consecutive victory in a $19,444 conditioned event. The sophomore daughter of Racing Hill-Arts Fantasy stormed off cover with a :28.2 last quarter to register a three-length win in 1:53.1. Dancing Dragon (Luke Hanners) got by pacesetter Pirate Princess (Jamie Hurley) for second. Art Of Racing started her winning streak in her second start under owner-trainer Tessa Perrin, who acquired the filly in September.

Racing continues at Dayton on Friday, Dec. 12 with a 4 p.m. post time for the 14-race card.

(With files from Dayton Raceway)