JBs Shooting Star, the only filly in a field of Open mares, captured the $18,000 weekly feature for distaffers at Hollywood Dayton Raceway on Friday night (December 21).
Driver Chris Page guided the upset winner confidently despite being dispatched at 14-1 odds. The Jace Sundeen-trained daughter of Straight Shooting got away fifth from an inside post during the quick :26.4 opening panel, then moved into second-over position while passing the :56.3 halfway point and 1:24.3 three-quarters station. At the head of the stretch, she still had Rock Me Baby and Rockin Racer to pass, which she did in mid-stretch, and then mustered the stamina to hold off fast-closing A Little Starstruk (Trevor Smith), the lapped-on runner-up in the race. Endeavors Star (Josh Sutton) also closed with resolve to garner the show dough.
John Barnard owns JBs Shooting Star, who was competing in Open company for the first time. The win was her fifth this year and eighth in her initial two seasons, and increased her juvenile bankroll to $115,008.
For Page, who is headed off for a holiday vacation, it was his third win on his final program of 2018.
(Dayton)