Better Is Nice rallied from fourth and drove past tiring leaders to score a minor upset in the $38,889 Open Pace on Saturday, Nov. 29 at Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway.
Cadillac Bayama (Chris Page), Rose Run Zane (Austin Hanners) and Better Is Nice (Tyler Smith) all went forward at the start, with Rose Run Zane clearing to the top and leading the field of six past the opening quarter in :27.2. The bettors' choice, Saulsbrook Victor (Brett MacDonald) made a brush and took command before the half in :55, and Page then pulled Cadillac Bayama off the rail from fourth and applied pressure to the leader at the three-quarters in 1:23. Saulsbrook Victor and Cadillac Bayama raced in tandem around the final turn but were soon joined by Rose Run Zane on the outside and Better Is Nice on the inside. Better Is Nice zoomed past rivals in the stretch and pulled away to a 1-1/4-length victory in 1:50.3. Saulsbrook Victor was second and a closing Midnight Rocker (Brett Miller) was third.
The win was the second of the season in 13 tries for the four-year-old Bettors Wish-Thatsoveryverynice gelding. Better Is Nice is trained by Michael Hitchcock for William Hartt and H & H Stable. He is now 14-for-42 lifetime. The win price was $16.60.
In the card’s first race, a $30,556 conditioned pace, Why Not Now came from mid-pack to score a three-quarter length win in 1:49.4. Three horses went for the early lead, and Rockabilly Rebel N (Luke Hanners) reached first but gave way to Naturally Gifted A (Trevor Smith), who pressed on and cleared to the top before the quarter in :26.3. Downbythedanceclub (Brett Miller) the went first-over approaching the half in :55.4 and powered to the top, leading to three-quarters in 1:22.1. Austin Hanners sent the eventual winner three-wide around the final turn, and the five-year-old stallion rolled to the front to beat Naturally Gifted A, who finished second. Rockabilly Rebel N was third.
Why Not Now is trained by Todd Luther for Greg Luther Racing. The son of Always A Virgin-Star Of The Show has won 13 times in 71 starts. He paid $12.40 to win.
Page, Brett Miller and Trevor Smith all recorded driving triples during the 14-race card.
Racing returns to Dayton Raceway on Tuesday, Dec. 2 with a 14-race program. First post is at 4 p.m.
(Dayton Raceway)