Dont Rush posted back-to-back seasons with nearly $300,000 in earnings racing in Ontario. The OSS graduate continues to click as a four-year-old racing stateside.

A four-year-old son of Infinitif with over a half million in career earnings, Dont Rush was unhurried in the infancy stages of Monday afternoon’s $15,000 Open Trot at Hollywood Dayton Raceway. But once the first quarter mile dust settled in :27.3 driver Dan Noble chose to move the 6-5 favourite boldy to the front —- the feat accomplished with relative ease. Dont Rush proceeded to dictate middle fractions of :56.1 and 1:24.3 before holding on for a 1:54 tally. It was the winner’s fourth win in six starts since joining the Bill Dailey barn in September.

Owned by Richard Lombardo, Carl Atley and the JJ&M Stable, Dont Rush now sports 15 career triumphs and $628,968 in lifetime bounty from just 41 starts.

Rockn Stien (Josh Sutton) summoned a gallant stretch effort to garner a runner-up finish for the third time in his last four tries in the featured event, coupled with a trip to the winner’s circle three starts back. Revenue Agent (Peter Wrenn) sat close to the pacesetters throughout and finished third. The first-over bid of Insomniac (Brady Galliers), the Open winner the previous two weeks, fell short during the closing panel as he finished fifth behind fourth place Elin (Kayne Kauffman), who saved ground throughout.

Noble has gradually worked his way into second place in the current Hollywood Dayton dash derby, well behind runaway leader Josh Sutton, but slightly ahead of Kayne Kauffman, Jeremy Smith and Chris Page. The 75-day 2016 meet, which began September 12 and ends December 30, passed the midway point during Monday’s matinee.

(with files from Dayton)