Two dominant competitors, Later Dudes and Let It Ride N, duked it out in the $23,000 Open Handicap Pace on Saturday (Nov. 25) at Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway with Later Dudes emerging on top.
Leaving from post six in a field of seven, driver Chris Page wasted no time in getting 8-5 Later Dudes to the front. While Later Dudes coasted through an opening quarter in :27.2, his foe, even-money favourite Let It Ride N, used a different tactic. Assigned the outside post, Let It Ride N and driver Tony Hall ducked off the gate. As Later Dudes headed toward the :55.2 half, Let It Ride N marched first-up from the back of the pack. Reaching the three-quarters pole in 1:22.2, the gap between the rivals quickly closed. The battle was on at the top of the stretch. The pair pulled away from the field together but Later Dudes came out on top in 1:50.3.
Reigning open champion Let It Ride N was second with 35-1 Modern Rock As completing the trifecta.
Later Dudes is a well known major open-level competitor at Dayton Raceway, Scioto Downs, Northfield Park, The Meadows or Hoosier Park. The Ron Burke trainee has now hit the board 30 of 38 seasonal starts. With 16 victories, the five-year-old gelded son of Sweet Lou has banked $246,368 in 2022. Later Dudes is owned in partnership by Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi.
Live racing will resume Tuesday (Nov. 29) at Dayton Raceway with first post at 4 p.m. (EST).
(Hollywood Dayton Raceway)