Whatchagonnado continued his winning ways for the Ron Burke barn with a front-stepping trip in the co-featured $24,658 conditioned claiming pace on Friday, Dec. 19 at Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway.
Dragon Attack (Sam Widger) won an early three-way battle in the opening eighth of the mile and led the field of eight past the quarter in :27. Whatchagonnado, driven by Chris Page, didn’t want to sit behind the 67-1 longshot and cleared the lead past the half in :55.4. Odds On Mad Hatter (Luke Hanners) was flushed out by Enrico Pallazzo (Trevor Smith) and challenged the leader at the three-quarters in 1:23.1. Whatchagonnado never relinquished the lead though and sprinted home in :28.1 to stop the timer in a new lifetime mark of 1:51.2. Odds On Mad Hatter finished 2-1/4 lengths back in second and Enrico Pallazzo rounded out the trifecta.
A sophomore son of Fear The Dragon and Bad Girls Club, Whatchagonnado has won three in a row at Dayton since being acquired by the Pennsylvania partnership of Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi. He paid $3.40 to win as the odds-on favourite.
In the matching co-feature, Bars And Notes got up in the final strides to record a neck victory with Brett Miller in the sulky.
Rockinpoppin (Tyler Smith) was the fastest off the gate and led through the first three-quarters with fractions of :27.2, :56 and 1:23.3. The bettors' choice, Ez Spree (David Miller), went first-over, providing live cover for Bright Bet (Chris Page). Around the final turn, Ez Spree drifted into the four-path, allowing Bright Bet to get next to the leader. Brett Miller sent the eventual winner into the passing lane and was first to the wire in 1:52.1. Bright Bet was second and Rockinpoppin rounded out the top three.
Steve Carter trains Bars And Notes, a three-year-old son of Racing Hill and Pure Note, for Ohio owner Caldwell Mamie Racing. The gelding has now won three of his seven starts at Dayton since being claimed by his current connections. He paid $8.40 to win as a 3-1 second choice.
The next card on Saturday, Dec. 20 will feature the Dayton Raceway and Ohio Harness Horseman’s Association’s TV & Ticket Giveaway. Five lucky fans will walk away with a grand prize. It is free to enter, but you must be present to win.
(With files from Dayton Raceway; photo of Whatchagonnado winning on Dec. 19)