Robert Michael (pictured above) used an aggressive three-wide brush down the backstretch and drew clear of the field of nine in the featured $24,658 conditioned claiming trot Monday evening (Dec. 22) at Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway.
Hilltop Sonar (Chris Page) was quick off the gates wings and received the first call, controlling the first half mile in :28.3 and 58.2. Jimbaran Zon S (Luke Hanners) found himself first over at the half, providing cover for Amarettos Andy (Luke Ebersole) and the eventual winner. Trevor Smith sent Robert Michael three-wide around the tiring Jimbaran Zon S down the backstretch and put a head in front at the three-quarters in 1:26.4. La Lolita (Sam Widger) came off the rail in third and tried to chase down the new leader, but Robert Michael was five lengths to the good in 1:55.3. Hilltop Sonar held on for third.
The four-year-old gelded son of Crazy Wow has now won back-to-back efforts for trainer Jason Irwin and owner Robert Weinstein of Boca Raton, FL.
In the card’s opening race, a $19,178 conditioned pace, Top Shelf Sherry (Luke Hanners) recorded his first win in career 28 starts thanks to a patient effort and a three-wide move in the final turn.
Ocean Tide (Austin Hanners) was the fastest in the opening eighth and led the field of nine. Top Shelf Sherry aborted an early effort and was pulled into the fifth spot on the rail during the opening panel of :27.1. A three-eighths move by Capital Gain (Tyler Smith) set off a chain reaction, by forcing Top Shelf Sherry off the rail, who forced the third-place El Jute (Trace Tetrick) to the outside. El Jute looked to be ahead at the three-quarters in 1:26.1 on the outside. Ocean Tide battled back and led around the final turn. Luke Hanners had Top Shelf Sherry around the leader in the final turn and pulled away by 7-1/2 lengths in 1:55.1. El Jute held on to second and Capital Gain rounded out the trifecta.
The winning sophomore pacer had two straight second place finishes since taking nearly three months off late in the summer. Bret Schwartz trains the Bit Of A Legend N gelding for the Hired Gun Stable of Washington C H, OH, and Steve Harrington of New Holland, OH.
Racing resumes on Tuesday (Dec. 23) with a 4:00 pm post time.
(With files from Dayton Raceway)