Despite frigid temperatures, Let It Ride N captured his second straight Open Pace at Hollywood Dayton Raceway on Saturday (Nov. 19) for driver Tony Hall and trainer Mike Hitchcock.
The amazing nine-year-old gelded son of Rock N Roll Heaven won for the 11th time this year, increasing his seasonal bankroll to a whopping $228,676 for owners William Hartt and the Enzed Racing Stable. The New Zealand-bred warrior has hit the board 23 times in 31 starts in 2022.
Starting from the innermost post position, Hall elected to settle his 6-5 favourite in third during the initial :27.4 quarter mile panel. After following Later Dudes (Chris Page) and Gold Digger King (Tyler Smith) to the :56.2 halfway station, Hall sent Let It Ride N on his way during the third quarter, reaching Later Dudes’ wheel when the teletimer flashed 1:23 after six furlongs. The two heavyweights slugged it out the length of the homestretch with the favourite prevailing by over a length at the wire in an eye-popping 1:50.2.
Patrikthepiranha A (Brett Miller), Gold Digger King and Odds On Shaggy (Mitch Cushing) were next to cross the finish line.
Driver Josh Sutton scored a handful of triumphs (five) during the first 11 races on the Saturday program. “The Outlaw,” a moniker announcer and friend Barry Vicroy pinned on Sutton several years ago, copped the first race with Lucky To Be Sweet (1:56, $3.40) then followed up with My Hero Ron (1:52.2, $10.60), Robert Again (1:52.2, $22), Mustang Beach (1:51.4, $6.40) and Criminal Record (1:53.3, $14.40). Sutton was also the sulky sitter behind a pair of place finishers during the 14-race program.
Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association Annual Charity Night At Dayton Raceway Huge Success
It was a cold and snowy Saturday night in Dayton, but Ohio horsemen warmed the coffers of 20 charities as part of the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association 2nd annual charity night.
Twenty charities participated in the event; each being paired with a horse. Each charity received a donation from the OHHA for participating, with the top three finishers receiving larger donations. First place received $10,000, second place received $5,000 and third place $3,000. All other finishers received $2,000 donations.
Josh Sutton was the hero of the evening as he drove both winners, netting the Gala of Hope and With God’s Grace Mobile Food Pantry each $10,000. Both charities were big winners in last year’s event but needed photo finishes to claim this year’s top donations
In the first charity race, Robert Again with Sutton was eighth at the top of the stretch but roared home to the delight of the Gala of Hope charity cheering him on from the winner’s circle. Modern AS was second in the photo for Hannah’s Treasure Chest. Third place went to the Miami Valley Down Syndrome Association. The other charities represented in the race were: Dayton Unit NAACP, Dayton VA Medical Center, Honor Flight, Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton, Pink Ribbon Girls, Shoes 4 Shoeless, and United Rehabilitation Services,
In the second charity race of the night, Sutton and Mustang Beach representing With God’s Grace Mobile Food Pantry held off a hard charge from Frequent Image representing the Marine Corp Toys For Tots to win in a photo. Topville Rustler finished third for The Food Bank. The other charities represented in the race were: 4 Paws for Ability, Artemis Center, Dayton Warriors Softball, Fisher/Nightingale Houses, For Love of Children, Ronald McDonald House, and Shriner’s Children.
A total of $64,000 was donated to the charities by the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association.
Hollywood Dayton will race Monday (Nov. 21), Tuesday (Nov. 22) and Wednesday (Nov. 23) before taking a day off to observe Thanksgiving on Thursday. Post time each afternoon is 4:00 p.m.
(Dayton / OHHA)