Gabbys Rockytop used a patient drive from Emanuel Miller to score an upset victory in the featured $25,352 conditioned claiming trot feature on Tuesday, Oct. 14 at Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway.
When the field of nine was sent on its way, a three-wide battle started between Gabbys Rockytop, Send Rip (Hugh Beatty), and favourite Elegant Resolve (Luke Hanners). The chalk cleared to the front in the opening quarter in :27.4, then released Send Rip, who drove on to take over past the first station. A first-up move by the sophomore General Grant (Austin Hanners) flushed Elegant Resolve out of the pocket nearing the half in :56.4, but that gelding was unable to clear.
A three-wide move down the backstretch had General Grant leading the field at the three-quarters in 1:24.3. Miller found some daylight and pulled the four-year-old Triumphant Caviar-Gabbys Creditcard gelding off the rail from third just as the leader broke stride and was moved into the safety lane. Send Rip inherited the lead and went to battle with Gabbys Rockytop and Long Ridge (Trevor Smith) down the lane, with Gabbys Rockytop getting up in the final strides to score by a neck in 1:54.2. Send Rip was second, with Long Ridge (Trevor Smith) third.
Gabbys Rockytop, who paid $21.60, is co-owned by trainer Chris Beaver, breeder Johanna Beaver, Mineral Lick Farm LLC, and Steven Zeehandelar. The four-year-old gelding is now 11-for-46 lifetime with $179,103 in earnings.
Austin Hanners and Southern Rockfest took the fastest race of the evening in the $19,718 conditioned pace in 1:52. Mama Said Zip It (Emanuel Miller) received the first call and strung out the favoured Southern Rockfest through the opening quarter in :27.3. Hanners had Southern Rockfest, a sophomore son of Pet Rock-Southern Accent, on the lead well before the half in :55.3 and rated him to three-quarters in 1:23.2. Southern Rockfest drew away and was 2-1/2 lengths the best over Garoppolo (Tyler Smith), who closed via the passing lane. Mama Said Zip It held on for third. Southern Rockfest picked up his seventh career win in 31 starts and upped his earnings to $117,067 for co-owners Brian Larrick and trainer Bret Schwartz.
Austin Hanners won three races on the 14-race program. A quartet of other reinsmen – Trevor Smith, Josh Sutton, Ken Holliday and Brett Miller – had doubles.
Dayton Raceway’s week continues on Wednesday with a 14-race card. First post is set for 4 p.m.
(Dayton Raceway; photo of Gabbys Rockytop winning on Sept. 15, 2024)