Fifty Rivers received a perfect pocket trip from Trevor Smith and edged Bargain by a scant nose in the $37,142 Open II Handicap Trot on Wednesday, Oct. 7 at Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway.

As soon as the gate's wings folded, a four-way battle ensued between Drink Up Drink Up (Marvin Luna), Bargain (Luke Hanners), Fifty Rivers and Dans Credit (Luke Plano). The 1-2 favourite, Bargain, gained control and led past the opening panel in :27 with Fifty Rivers second, Dans Credit third and Drink Up Drink Up fourth before breaking stride. Reggianito (Hugh Beatty) was flushed off the pylons by Private Access (Brett Miller) before the half in :56.1. 

Private Access make a break in stride, leaving Reggianito the sole outside challenger down the backstretch until he took a bad step and galloped nearing three-quarters in 1:24. Smith tipped Fifty Rivers to the outside at the bottom of the last turn, and the gelding was soon stride-for-stride with Bargain. They duelled down the lane, with Fifty Rivers up at the wire for the 1:52.2 victory. Dans Credit, a 107-1 longshot, was third.

Fifty Rivers, owned by J M F Racing LLC, picked up his 10th win of the season in 32 outings. The four-year-old Fiftydallarbill-Hudson Jesse gelding was making his second start for trainer Antonia Storer after spending his summer at Running Aces in Minnesota. He paid $9.40 to win.

Drivers Kayne Kauffman and Jeremy Smith both picked up driving triples on the 14-race card. Kauffman guided Vekna (1:54.1, $10.80), Tenille Towns (1:55.2, $15) and State Of Fear (1:53.4, $31.40) to victory. Smith scored with Layallyourloveonme (1:52.2, $4.40), Boots N Beer (1:53, $3) and Triathlon As (1:54, $9). With the triple, Smith jumped into a tie for second in the tight Dayton drivers' standings with 11 wins.

The punters did not solve the final Pick 4 and Pick 5 of the evening, providing carryovers to Thursday’s card. First post is 4 p.m.

(With files from Dayton Raceway)