Gone Girl (Dan Noble), a 17-1 longshot, upset heavily favoured The Bethinator (Brett Miller) in the Friday (Oct. 8) $25,000 Mares Open Pace at Hollywood Dayton Raceway.
The seven-year-old daughter of Dragon Again managed the feat by stalking the favourite throughout the first seven-eighths of the mile then veering left into the passing lane — installed prior to the start of the 2021 meet — and speeding to a 1-1/4-length victory in 1:51.3. Paperback Thriller (Mitch Cushing) saved ground from her inside starting spot to secure the show finish.
Mark Gillenwater owns and trains Gone Girl, who has now won 10 times in 2021 and 33 times overall. Her seasonal earnings now stand at $91,010 and her career bounty exceeds $350,000.
Racing resumes Saturday, Oct. 9 at Hollywood Dayton when eight separate $40,000 Ohio Fair Championship races and six outstanding overnight events will comprise the 14-race program. Post time is 4 p.m. The Saturday card will also include a $2,229 carryover in the popular 20-cent Pick Six wager, which begins in Race 8.
The Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association (OHHA) will live stream Saturday Night at the Races, The Ohio Fair Championships from Hollywood Dayton Raceway. Saturday at the Races is presented by the Galbreath Equine Center at The Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center. The live stream will begin approximately at 3:45 p.m., and can viewed on the OHHA YouTube Channel and at HarnessRacingOhio.com.
The race card will also include the inaugural OHHA Dayton Charity Night. Twenty Dayton area charities will participate in the event. Each charity with paired with a horse in either the ninth or the 11th race. If that charity’s horse wins, they will receive a donation of $10,000 from OHHA. The horse finishing in second place will garner a donation of $5,000 for the charity, while third place will receive a $2,500 donation. Charities that finish fourth through tenth will receive $2,000 donations.
Saturday Night at the Races is sponsored by Midland Acres, Bow River Jewelry, Equilume, Kim Hill Real Estate and Cool Winds Farm.
(With files from Dayton & OHHA)