Pick Me Upper won for the 11th time this season in the Thursday (Dec. 9) Open Handicap Trot at Hollywood Dayton Raceway and in the process, the four-year-old son of Trixton lowered his own track record for the age, sex and gait to 1:52.1. He originally set the standard of 1:52.4 one week ago in the same feature race for driver Tony Hall and trainer Junior Haynes.
Despite the fact there were five trotters with over $115,000 in 2021 earnings in the field of nine, Pick Me Upper was sent directly to the front by Hall, reaching the quarter mile marker in :27. Coasting through middle fractions of :55.4 and 1:23.4, there were no serious threats until the stretch. A host of challengers emerged as the field neared the finish line. Hall was able to urge a :28.2 closing panel to win, although Refined (Mitch Cushing) and pocket sitter Jailhouse Sam (Sandy Beatty) were both closing quickly and were lapped on to the winner at the wire.
Back Door Man (Jeremy Smith) and Mission Accepted (Chris Page) were narrowing the gap in the stretch as well, but were relegated to earning the minor spoils in the $30,000 event.
Nathan Cockerham owns the winner whose 2021 bankroll reached $130,000 with the triumph, after going unraced at two and earning just $7,620 as a three-year-old.
A $22,000 mini series final for mid-range condition/claiming horses was captured by Rosas Rebel, a recent addition to the stable of trainer Jason Brewer on behalf of owner Barry Charles. The three-year-old son of Always A Virgin, driven by the meet's leading reinsman Tyler Smith, bested Big Chief Arrow (Brett Miller) and Grand Ole Party (Kayne Kauffman).
Four divisions of $12,500 claiming pacers kicked off their mini series, with the top two in each heat plus the two fastest second place finishers advancing to next week's $23,000 final. Winners were Beach House ($5.40), Bettors Dream ($3.20), Lazy Jane ($5.20) and Hannahsboy Ken Win ($3.40).
Live harness racing resumes Friday afternoon (Dec. 10) with a 4 p.m. post time.
(Dayton)