Nuclear Dragon, a 10-year-old warrior with 41 wins and over $569,000 in earnings, put his versatility on full display the past three weeks by sweeping the 4th annual Bill Dailey Memorial Medley series at Miami Valley.
After setting a World Record of 1:07 in a first leg 5/8ths mile dash, he scored an eight-length 1:51.4 triumph at a mile in leg two. With the championship contested at a distance of 1-1/4 miles, Nuclear Dragon was dispatched by the public as the 1-2 favourite and did not disappoint.
After a brief two-hole tuck going to the quarter in :27.1, the diminutive favourite and regular reinsman Jeremy Smith reassumed command as the field passed before the grandstand the first time and reached the half-mile mark in :54.1. Letting his charge pace on Smith stopped the next two timing stations in 1:22.3 and 1:50.4 as announcer Barry Vicroy got increasingly excited and the buzz in the grandstand grew. Holding all challengers at bay, Nuclear Dragon crossed the finish in 2:20.3, just four-fifths of a second off the World Record taken by Boulder Creek at Dover Downs in 2006.
Later Dudes (Chris Page) was a half-length back of Nuclear Dragon at the end, but was placed third for a pylon violation. Big Booty Rudy (Trace Tetrick) crossed the line third, but was placed second. Nuclear Dragon paid $3 to win.
A $30,000 Open Trot resulted in an upset ($31.40) when I Know My Chip (Tyler Smith) popped the pocket at the head of the stretch and stormed to a 1:54.2 tally. Favoured Pass The Vape (Dan Noble) was the place finisher and Pure Chance (Sam Widger) went a game trip on the front end before finishing third.
Junior Haynes trains the Ohio-sired son of Deep Chip for owners Brian Carsey and the Black & White Stable. It was the 51st lifetime win for I Know My Chip, who was bred by Bill and Kim Dailey, and has earnings approaching $1.2 million.
Jeremy Smith’s win with Nuclear Dragon in the Dailey Memorial final was one of four on the day for the 42-year-old driver. Earlier on the program he put together a natural hat trick with Swapportunity (1:54.3, $58.40), Oberlin (1:52.3, $6.80) and Ponderingjacksfame (1:52.2, $6.20).
Racing resumes Tuesday (March 15) with a 14-race program at 4:05 p.m.
(Miami Valley Raceway)