A $36,000 purse and the promise on an open draw attracted 11 outstanding trotters for the weekly feature at Hollywood Dayton on Thursday (Dec. 16), including a trio of star squaregaiters who have been burdened with outside post position assignments most of the year at the commercial tracks in Ohio, Indiana and Pennsylvania.
Mission Accepted (Josh Sutton), who drew inside the five hole for the first time in his last 10 starts, reigned supreme by equaling his own 1:52.3 track record for older male trotters, held jointly with Whata Swan.
The winning six-year-old son of Manofmanymissions, who will stand stud during the upcoming breeding season before resuming racing, was content to get away third from the rail while watching Lindseys Pride (Tony Hall) and Whata Swan (Tyler Smith) duke it out through a first quarter in :27 and halfway clocking of :55.2. At that point Sutton directed him to the outside. Mission Accepted responded willingly and sped to the lead down the backstretch before tripping the three quarters beam in 1:23.3. A closing :29 panel was all that way needed to hold the others at bay.
Pass The Vape (Trevor Smith) posed the biggest threat as the horses trotted towards the finish, but the 50-1 longshot couldn't get past the winner's wheel. Refined (Mitch Cushing) rallied to secure the show spot, followed by Whata Swan (Tyler Smith) and Back Door Man (Jeremy Smith).
"He's a true professional," exclaimed Sutton about Mission Accepted. "He's got great confirmation and determination. Plus he's versatile and loves his job! It's hard to beat that combination."
Earlier on the program a $23,000 mini-series final was contested for $12,500 claiming pacers. Bettors Dream (Jeremy Smith) also used inside post position advantage to pull a mild upset in 1:53.2. Double Down Duke (Cushing) and Lazy Duke crossed the line next in the evenly-matched field. Tony Rose trains the winner for Tessa Perrin. The victory was Bettors Dream's seventh of the year and boosted his seasonal earnings over $60,000.
The triumph was one of five on the day for driver Jeremy Smith, who kicked off the program by winning both halves of the daily double. He won a maiden pace in 1:56.1 with Budmans Dream; then guided Every Play Counts to a 1:54.1 bottom claiming class score in the second. The double returned $181 to those who were confident Jeremy was going to have a big day. The 41-year-old red and white clad reinsman then captured subsequent races with Tru Blu Hypnotic (1:54.4, $3.20), Bettors Dream ($13.60) and the nightcap with Simply Oatstanding (1:54.1, $11.60).
Live harness racing resumes both Friday and Saturday at Hollywood Dayton with 4:00 p.m. post times.
(Dayton)