Surreal Ideal proved why he was the bettors' choice despite his outside post nine, cutting the mile to win the $42,857 Horses and Geldings Open Handicap Pace on Saturday, Nov. 14 at Hollywood Gaming Dayton Raceway.

Driver Chris Page marched Surreal Ideal to the front and dictated the tempo through fractions of :27, :55.1 and 1:22.4. Oakwood Heymiki Ir (Brett Miller) started the outer flow as the field came by the stands the first time. David Miller pulled Higher Ground three-wide around the final turn, but Surreal Ideal uncorked a :26.4 final panel to stop the clock in 1:49.3, ahead of Higher Ground by 2-1/4 lengths. A pocket-sitting Bright Bet (Luke Hanners) used the ground-saving trip to take third.

Surreal Ideal won for the 47th time from 148 starts in his career. Vernon Beachy trains the eight-year-old gelded son of So Surreal-Jkmusicofthenite for 518 Group LLC and Gitup Racing. The winner returned $5.20 as the lukewarm favourite.

The punters' top choices had a rough night, with the betting favourites two-for-14 on the evening.

Brett Miller steered Seaside Sailing to the card’s biggest upset in a $17,143 starter allowance pace at 53-1. Despite the outside post nine, Seaside Sailing was always near the lead and nipped One Rockin Wes (Chris Page) by a nose in 1:52, with the pacesetting Deleston (Luke Hanners) third by a neck. The five-year-old Downbytheseaside-Salisbury Road gelding returned $108.60 to his backers. He is conditioned by Waylon Eubank for the partnership of Patrick Meldon and Brian Younkin.

Live racing will return to Dayton Raceway on Tuesday.

(Dayton Raceway)