Ontario-sired Rehab Mountain (Brad Hanners) captured the $10,000 Open Trot and Lucky Lime (Shawn Barker II) edged an even field of classy pacers in the $10,000 Open Pace to highlight the Saturday night program at Hollywood Dayton Raceway.
It was the initial triumph at Dayton for Rehab Mountain, who had finished second and third in his only other starts at the new track. The seven-year-old Duke Of York gelding equaled his lifetime mark of 1:54.2 to turn the tables on last week’s winner Touchmymuscles (Dan Noble) with newcomer Cantab Lindy (Josh Sutton) finishing third. Trainer/driver Brad Hanners set sail from the outset and posted all the fractions of :27.3, :56.4 and 1:25.2 en route to the 2-3/4 lengths tally. It was the 25th career victory for Rehab Mountain and increased his life bankroll over $225,000 for the B6 Racing Stable.
With the temperature dropping rapidly, the pacers covered the mile just two races later in the same speed as the trotters. Eventual show finisher Rockin Finish (Randy Tharps) set the tempo through quarter stations in :27, :56.3 and 1:25 before the entire field bunched up and the head of the stretch and sprinted towards the finish wire. Suncapade (Greg Grismore) grabbed the lead temporarily in mid-stretch before being nailed in the final strides by Lucky Lime. The top three were within a neck of each other at the end while the majority of the field were within three lengths of the winner. It was the third Open company win for Lucky Lime at Dayton Raceway. The five-year-old son of Rocknroll Hanover is owned by Kirk Nichols and trained by Dean Glispie.
Randy Tharps scored a driving triple on the card while Brad Hanners and Shawn Barker II and Jeremy Smith had driving doubles.
(With files from Dayton Raceway)