Tarshish used a patient drive from Jeremy Smith and the passing lane to score an 18-1 upset in the $42,857 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap Pace on Wednesday, Sept. 30 at Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway.
The four-year-old daughter of Luck Be Withyou-The Partys Rockin was the first off the gate, then yielded to Alwaysbpuffing Ir (Chris Page) at the quarter in :27 after an early four-wide scuffle. Caviart Delight (David Miller) then pushed to the lead before the half-mile station in :54.3. Smith elected to stay in the pocket as Alwaysbpuffing Ir tried to retake at the three-quarters in 1:22.3. Ducking into the passing lane, Tarshish outsprinted Alwaysbpuffing Ir and a late-closing Foxy Hill (Luke Hanners) to record a three-quarter-length win in 1:51. Alwaysbpuffing Ir took second, followed by Foxy Hill.
Tarshish scored for the 15th time in 47 career starts. She is owned by Joanne Samples and conditioned by Walter Haynes Jr. The win price was $39.60.
In the $28,571 conditioned claiming event for fillies and mares, the New Zealand-bred Sadhaka N came first-up to wear down the pacesetting My Hare Legend (Kayne Kauffman), then held off late rallies by Trsshining Star (Brett Miller) and Callmeovrdahill (Jeremy Smith) to win by a half-length in 1:53.4. Trsshining Star was second, followed by Callmeovrdahill. Tyler George trains the winning five-year-old Bettors Delight-Samskara mare for Thunder Racing Stables Inc. She returned $23.20 in her sixth win of the year from 21 outings. She gave driver Austin Hanners his third victory of the evening.
Driving doubles were recorded by Luke Hanners, Jeremy Smith, Kyle Husted and Trevor Smith on the 14-race card. Virgil Morgan Jr. was the only trainer to double up.
Racing continues at Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway on Thursday with a 4 p.m. first post. The Grand Circuit’s annual Dayton stop will occur on Saturday with the four Dayton Derbies, going for a combined $1 million USD, and a special post time of 6:30 pm.
(With files from Dayton Raceway)