The highest overnight purse of the Hollywood Dayton meet, a $60,000 mini-series final for Open Pacers, was featured on the Saturday (Dec. 18) card. The outcome was a mild surprise as Dojea Gizmo and Trevor Smith rallied from a third-place ride along the pylons for most of the 1:51.4 mile to triumph over runnerup Kneedeep N Custard and Sectionline Bigry.
Lexus Witha View, who stopped with first three timing beams in :27.3, :54 and 1:22.1 faded to fourth, while Nuclear Dragon was fifth in the nine-horse field.
Smith left the gate with speed but was content to allow Lexus Witha View to cross over in front of him and cut the mile. A determined Loutenant was parked and pressuring the pacesetter through the first five-eighths of the mile before running out of steam. Dojea Gizmo sat patiently around the final bend as Kneedeep N Custard moved up to challenge Lexus Witha View as did Sectionline Bigry, who made a big move from the back of pack to be three wide as the field swung for home.
Finding a seam to squeeze through as the wire approached, Dojea Gizmo eeked out the victory. The four-year-old son of Tellmelikeitis is trained by Todd Luther and owned by Black Magic Racing LLC. With six 2021 wins and 16 career tallies, Dojea Gizmo's lifetime bankroll has soared to $286,044 with a lifetime speed badge of 1:49 taken earlier this season at The Meadowlands.
A $30,000 Open Pace was won by Omega Cat and Brett Miller in 1:53.2, nailing Sunshine List in the final strides. General Dolan was best of the rest. Steve Brannan owns and trains Omega Cat, who surpassed $100,000 in seasonal bounty with his eighth 2021 score.
Driver Tony Hall drove the winners of two additional mini-series finals on Saturday. In the $33,000 final for non-winners of $8,000 in last four starts, Hall urged odds-on favourite Blank Stare to a 1:52.2 win over My Hero Ron and Sprinter N. Jeff Cullipher trains and co-owns the winner with Pollack Racing LLC. In the $31,000 mini-series final for $20,000 claimers, Skyway Trooper bested Fox Valley Hustler and Lucifers Legend. Patricia Brewer trains the winner for Daniel Brewer.
(Hollywood Dayton Raceway)