Driver Chris Page and trainer Ron Burke, the meet leaders in their respective categories at Dayton Raceway, teamed up for four wins on Tuesday, Dec. 9, with Page adding a fifth on the 14-race card.
The Page-Burke winners were Brink Street (1:56, $5.40), Hilltop Sonar (1:54.1, $3), Bravo Hill (1:57.2, $3) and Banderas (1:52, $2.40). The driver's other winner was the Steve Carter-trained Beach Master Keene (1:54.4, $3.80).
Page has a stranglehold on the drivers' standings with a 42-win lead over second-placed Tyler Smith. The Delaware, Ohio-based pilot has amassed 564 victories and $12.1 million in earnings across all tracks this season, both personal-best totals.
Burke has a 50-38 edge over Carter on the trainers' leaderboard. The conditioner is having one of his best seasons to date with 1,088 wins and $42.7 million in earnings.
Also on the card, sophomore filly pacer Vel Im All Fire took her second straight win in the last 10 days after an 0-for-27 start with a front-stepping win in the $12,500 conditioned claiming pace
When the field of nine was sent on its way, a three-way battle ensued for early control between Apple Town (Trace Tetrick), Vel Im All Fire (Cam McCown) and Rks Captain (Luke Hanners), leaving Rks Captain parked from post eight at the opening quarter in :27.4. He took over from Vel Im All Fire, but McCown didn’t want to sit in the pocket and took his charge right back out as the field went past the grandstand for the first time. Vel Im All Fire went into the strong headwind and tripped the half-mile beam in front in :58.1. Tetrick then moved favourite Apple Town to the outside and headed four outside challengers at the three-quarters in 1:26.1. Rks Captain was patient in the pocket and had a clear shot at the leader, but Vel Im All Fire had enough in the tank to score a 1-1/2 length victory in a lifetime-best 1:54.4. Apple Town finished third.
The winning Straight Shooting-Miss Intuition filly is conditioned by Nathan Alexander for the A I R Stable. She paid $10.80 to win. The win was the third of the evening for McCown.
Racing returns to Dayton Raceway on Wednesday with a 4 p.m. post time.
(With files from Dayton Raceway; photo of Chris Page on Oct. 11, 2023)