Ohio Sires Stakes championships for older horses were decided in decidedly different fashions Saturday night at Hollywood Dayton Raceway.

The $50,000 trotting split was won by Final Breath in the most thrilling race to date at harness racing’s newest venue. Dancin Yankee, on the other hand, enjoyed a virtual walk in the park in the $50,000 pacing division. The championship races for older state-bred horses were the first contested in many years as the VLT-infused racing renaissance in Ohio continues to gain momentum.

Final Breath, Ohio’s 2013 Horse of the Year, turned the tables on last week’s elimination winner Count Me In by withstanding a lengthy photo finish, which proved he had in fact held off his main adversary by about an inch. Driver/trainer Hugh (Sandy) Beatty made a bold second quarter brush to the front with favoured Count Me In (Mike Wilder), who had set the track record of 1:55.1 last week, opting for the pocket ride. The result was a thrilling stretch duel between the two heavyweight trotters, who reached the wire in tandem in 1:54.4, the new track standard. It was the 20th career win for Final Breath, sent off at odds of 5-2 as the only four-year-old in the talented field, and increased his earnings to $322,578 for owner Duane Lowe. Rompaway Beau (Tyler Buter) was best of the rest to finish third.

Dancin Yankee had a much easier task as the prohibitive favourite made it look easy capturing the pacing race in 1:52.1 over the ‘good’ track that horsemen lauded despite the fact the Dayton area experienced prolonged showers all afternoon. Driver Tyler Buter placed the millionaire pacer on the front end throughout and drew off by over five lengths in the stretch. With the impressive win Dancin Yankee’s earnings soared to $509,140 this season for owners Baron Racing Stable and Richard Lombardo. Outdoor Fever (Kayne Kauffman) was a game second place finisher, just as he was in his elimination heat, with Grandkids Attack (Jason Brewer) getting the show dough.

Hollywood Dayton Raceway will host its first-ever Grand Circuit races on Friday night, October 24 when the inaugural $150,000 (est.) Dayton Trotting Derby and $110,000 (est.) Dayton Pacing Derby are presented. Creatine, presently the hottest trotter in North America, is expected to headline the Trotting Derby, while Foiled Again, the richest harness horse of all-time, was the first to name in to the Pacing Derby. Trainers are reminded that the entry box for the gala Friday night card closes on Monday (October 20) at 2:00 p.m. The Dayton race office accepts phone entries from noon to 2:00 p.m. at 937-235-7859, or welcomes entries through the USTA’s online platform.

(Dayton Raceway)