For the second straight Saturday night Lucky Lime (Shawn Barker II) closed from fifth at the three-quarters marker to narrowly beat an outstanding full field of Open pacers at Dayton Raceway.
With four new invaders from recently-closed Hoosier Park and a Yonkers invader who was recently purchased by Ohio connections, the cast was somewhat different for the $10,000 event, but the exciting stretch drive and ultimate result was the same. Lucky Lime’s 1:53 score was his seventh of the season and 18th of his career, pushing his lifetime earnings to $202,257. The five-year-old son of Rocknroll Hanover is owned by Kirk Nichols and trained by Dean Glispie. Masters Champion (Kyle Ater) finished a lapped-on second a scant nose in front of show finisher Rockin Finish (Randy Tharps).
Barker also guided Fudge to a 1:53.3 score in an $8,000 condition and optional claiming event a race earlier. Fudge was claimed for $8,000 a month ago, and following a fourth-place finish in his first outing for his new owner/trainer Cole Fitzwater, he has now reeled off three straight triumps against $10,000, then $15,000 and now $20,000 claiming company. The four-year-old gelding, also a son of Rocknroll Hanover, has now won 12 times in 32 tries during his 2014 campaign. Lieutenant Steve (Chris Page) was second with El Shooter (Dan Noble) getting the show dough.
(Dayton)