The action was fast and furious, both on the track and through the mutuel windows, at Hollywood Dayton Raceway on Wednesday (Dec. 21). Kings County captured the $25,000 Open Handicap Trot in 1:52.2, shaving a fifth of a second off the record for stud horses at least five years of age. Mission Accepted (2020) and Whata Swan (2021) had shared the local divisional standard.
Driver Brett Miller scooted Kings County out of the gate quickly, but relented to a pair of leavers on his inside before reaching the first quarter in :27.4. With Angel Nation and Winning Ticket temporarily in front of him, Miller elected to move to the point during the second quarter.
After reaching the halfway junction in :56, the mild favourite put the pedal to the metal to open a two-length advantage at the 1:23.4 third quarter station. Softening ever so slightly through the stretch, Kings County held Angel Nation at bay by just under a length at the finish line. Dontforgetlittlman turned a ground saving trip along the pylons into a show finish in the full field. Sly Little Fox and million-dollar winner Mission Accepted earned the minor spoils.
Stacy Van Huizen conditions Kings County for the fractional ownership group Thestablekingscounty of Guelph, Ont.
Off the track, the story of the day was the impressive $760,687 handle; the third best in Hollywood Dayton's nine-year history
Racing resumes Thursday (Dec. 22) at 4 p.m. (EST). The daily $1 Pick Eight wager now features a carryover in excess of $22,000 and a guaranteed payoff over $25,000 for a perfect ticket or tickets.
(Hollywood Dayton)