The sport's best aged performers invaded Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway for the Dayton Derbies, with purses in the four events totalling more than $1.3 million, on Saturday, Sept. 27 on a card that included the Ohio Sires Stakes Scarlet Championships.
Ervin Hanover received an aggressive steer from Louis-Philippe Roy and held off a late charge by Captain Albano to win the $347,222 Dayton Pacing Derby in an all-age track record of 1:47.2.
Captain Albano (Todd McCarthy) led to the first quarter of :26.3 before letting Ervin Hanover take over en route to the half in :53.2. Ervin Hanover led past the three-quarters in 1:20 with Maximus Miki (Scott Zeron) stalled first-over and Captain Albano in the pocket. Ervin Hanover rebuffed the outer challenger coming into the stretch and held off a last surge by Captain Albano to win by a neck. Maximus Miki was third.
The winning time was the fastest mile ever paced at the Dayton, Ohio oval.
Ervin Hanover has won back-to-back races in the Buckeye State after his victory in the Jim Ewart Memorial at Scioto Downs on Sept. 6. The Captaintreacherous-Eloquent Grace stallion is owned by Pollack Racing LLC and conditioned by Dave Menary. The five-year-old is a 24-time winner with $1,255,885 banked from 72 career outings. His win price was $5.
“Those special horses like Ervin [Hanover], they just come once in a while, so I feel like in the long-term you have to stick with them,” Roy said about choosing to forego driving in the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots Finals at Woodbine Mohawk Park to make the trip to Ohio. "Those are the ones you're going to remember."
The $347,222 Dayton Distaff Derby (Grade 1) was another showdown between Twin B Joe Fresh and Sylvia Hanover, and Twin B Joe Fresh was an open-length winner again.
Twin B Joe Fresh (Dunn) benefitted from drawing post four, while Sylvia Hanover (Tim Tetrick) was saddled with post eight. 2024 Jugette champion Soft Shot (David Miller) grabbed the lead in the opening quarter in :26.1, and Sylvia Hanover tried for the front but never saw a pylon and was parked for the entire mile.
Dunn then sent the defending champion to the lead before the half in :54.2 and kept the gas pedal down to three-quarters in 1:21.1 with Sylvia Hanover still parked out. Twin B Joe Fresh then produced a :27.3 final quarter to stop the timer in a track-record 1:48.4. Sylvia Hanover hung on for second, 4-1/2 lengths behind the winner, over Seaside Diva (Page).
“She is incredible,” said Dunn of his sharp mare. “We’ve been on a special ride with her, and I don’t think we probably realize how special it is, but we will one day. [Trainer] Chris [Ryder] has got her so good right now and she felt fantastic tonight.
"They are two champion mares, but we had the advantage tonight drawing inside of [Sylvia Hanover]. If we draw outside her it could be a different situation. It’s been a great battle over the last three years.”
Twin B Joe Fresh is owned by trainer Chris Ryder in partnership with Dunn, Peter Trebotica, and Barry Spak. The five-year-old daughter of Roll With Joe-Fresh Breeze tallied her 35th career victory in 48 attempts. She has now earned $3,373,762. The win price was $2.10.
Lexus Kody gave trainer Ron Burke one of five victories on the night as he circled the field in the final quarter to win the $347,222 Grade 2 Dayton Trotting Derby in his fifth straight Grand Circuit win.
Leaving from the rail, Lexus Kody (Yannick Gingras) found himself in a tough position when half of the field was sent for the early lead. It was Up Your Deo (Ake Svanstedt) who came away with the lead during the first half-mile, breaking the beam on :26.4 and :54.3 fractions. Southwind Coors (Ronnie Wrenn, Jr.) used a first-over move to grab control at the three-quarters in 1:23.1, where Lexus Kody was shuffled to last. Gingras sent the seven-year-old four wide around the final turn, and Lexus Kody took flight to go from worst to first and score the three-quarter-length win in 1:51.4. Aetos Kronos S (Dexter Dunn) was a hard-closing second, and Chapercraz (Chris Page) was third.
“I was able to squeeze out on the last turn, and he’s just a tremendous horse, he’s so sharp,” Gingras said. “It was not a good drive, so the credit goes to him.”
Lexus Kody's last four starts consist of victories in the Grade 1 Maple Leaf Trot, Grade 1 Yonkers International Trot, Grade 2 Caesars Trotting Classic, and now the Dayton Trotting Derby. Saturday's win was his 35th lifetime in 87 career starts, and he improved his bankroll to $2,212,440. Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, and Phillip Collura own the Archangel-Lexus Helios gelding. He paid $3.40 to win.
In the $347,222 Grade 1 Dayton Oaks Derby, M Ms Dream used a perfect pocket trip to win the aged mare trot in a stakes-record 1:51.3.
The Ohio-bred Jurassic Hattie (Brett Miller) grabbed the early lead and led the field of eight past the splits of :26.2, :54.4, and 1:22. Gingras sat patiently in the pocket and sent the Ron Burke trainee into the passing lane, and M Ms Dream rolled past the pacesetter to record the one-length win. Jurassic Hattie held on for second over Elista Hanover (David Miller).
“I’m really happy for her tonight, she really had to dig in,” Gingras said. “I’m not sure she was at the top of her game, she was tired, but she’s just a classy mare. She got the job done.”
M Ms Dream has won two stakes events — the Miss Versatility Final and the Steele Memorial — in her past three starts. She has now won 36 of 65 career outings and has earned $2,454,085. The six-year-old daughter of Swan For All-Trading Places is owned by Hillside Stables and Frank Baldachino. She paid $5.40 to win.
Ron Burke stablemates Harrisburg Heist, Lindy Dragonwater, and Seaside Shuffle took three of the four pacing divisions in the 2025 Ohio Sires Stakes (OHSS) Scarlet Championships.
Harrisburg Heist recorded the fastest mile among the four divisions, winning the $555,556 colt pace championship in a lifetime-best and track-record 1:48.3.
With betting odds of 22-1, it was an upset win for the Downbytheseaside-Cashaway gelding. Swingtown (Wrenn) led the field at the quarter pole in :25.3, but Sippinonsearoc (Gingras) was in front at the next two calls in fractions of :53.4 and 1:21.2. Third at the halfway mark and second at three-quarters, Harrisburg Heist (Todd McCarthy) made it three-wide down the stretch and surged to victory. Swingtown was a half-length back in second followed by Sippinonsearoc in third. All three horses are Burke trainees.
“He felt really good down the backstretch there ... he really dug [in] for me. At that point, I figured we were going to be pretty close there at the wire,” McCarthy said. “He raced huge. Full credit to the horse.”
The win was the ninth for Harrisburg Heist in 25 starts, increasing his earnings to $669,421. He is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC, Knox Services Inc., Collura, and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. His backers received $47.80.
“Ronnie [Burke] was really confident with the horse going into tonight,” Todd McCarthy said. “He said to me, ‘If you can kind of figure out a trip where you can be close, I think he’s got a shot.’ He had him spot on tonight, and it was a fun race.”
The three-year-old colt pace was the lone $555,556 division, as it did not have a consolation race on Friday. The remaining divisions featured a purse of $416,667.
Lindy Dragonwater won the freshman colt pace championship in 1:51, matching his lifetime best and setting new stakes and track records for driver Page.
Illbetyourboots (Gingras) led at the quarter in :26.3, but Lindy Dragonwater was in front the rest of the way, recording fractions of :55 and 1:22.4 en route to winning by two lengths over second-place finisher When Is Parade (Dunn) with Backninebar (Tetrick) in third.
“I’ve just been real patient with him and have done things his way," Page said. "I’ve let him progress at his own pace, and it paid off tonight with a track record."
Lindy Dragonwater ($3.40) is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC, Knox Services Inc., Beasty LLC, and Brad Grant. The Downbytheseaside-Imagine Dragon gelding posted victories in three of the five legs of the OHSS this season and has five wins in eight starts overall with $403,225 in earnings. The win mutuel was $3.40.
Another offspring of Downbytheseaside, Seaside Shuffle, took the freshman filly pace championship in a lifetime-best 1:51.3, setting a new track record. Shesafirewoman (Luke Hanners), who entered five-for-five in the OHSS this season, led at the first three calls with fractions of :27.1, :56, and 1:24. But after taking the pocket trip, Seaside Shuffle (Wrenn) moved into the passing lane and raced side-by-side with Shesafirewoman down the stretch toward a photo finish. Seaside Shuffle edged Shesafirewoman by a nose. Laude Da (Gingras) was third.
Seaside Shuffle ($10.40) took two OHSS preliminary round wins on the season and has now hit the board in eight of nine starts with four victories and $432,723 in earnings. The filly out of Hula Shuffle is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Knox Services Inc., and RAS Racing LLC.
“This is fantastic, this is why we do it” Kris Brechler of Knox Services said after the win. “She had been racing some really good competition in Lexington and holding her own, so I thought she'd come up here and be really good.”
McCarthy scored a second driving win with Prolific Fire in the sophomore filly pace championship. Trained by Todd Luther for Greg Luther Racing LLC, the Catch The Fire-Alexas Jewel filly crossed the line in a lifetime-best and stakes-record 1:50.
Prolific Fire took the pocket trip as Odds On Chesapeake (Dunn), who scored wins in four of the five legs of the OHSS this season, led the way at the first three calls of :26.3, :55, and 1:22.3. That duo separated from the rest of the field entering the final stretch. Moving to the outside of Odds On Chesapeake, Prolific Fire used a late charge to win by three-quarters of a length. Skywalker Sea (Austin Hanners) was third.
“She is a very nice filly. She behaved herself well and has a great attitude,” McCarthy said. “This was my first time driving her, and it was a pleasure.”
Coming off winning the Ohio Breeders Championship by 10 lengths at Delaware, Prolific Fire ($10.20) has now hit the board in 15 of 23 lifetime starts with five wins and $575,265 in earnings.
Luther liked her chances going into Saturday’s race.
“Her last two starts have been really good, and with the way she trained this week when we drew the rail, I knew we were going to be in a great spot,” he said.
Ronnie Gillespie was emotional as he was interviewed in the winner’s circle after training and driving Big Ranger to the championship for freshman colt trotters, completing an Ohio Triple Crown-winning season.
“I’m a little emotional because I beat the odds as a trainer and driver,” Gillespie said. “To have a horse that good at the beginning of the season and maintain him to the end of the season takes a lot of work.”
Big Ranger led wire-to-wire, cutting :27, :56.2, and 1:24.2 panels en route to winning by 8-1/2 lengths in 1:53.4 for owner Madison Global. That marked a lifetime best and set new track and stakes records as Gillespie claimed his first OHSS championship as a trainer. Rose Run Banker (Page) was second, followed by Max The Mighty (Andrew McCarthy) in third.
Four horses entered Saturday looking to complete the Ohio Triple Crown (Ohio State Fair Stakes, Ohio Breeders Championship, and OHSS Championship), but Big Ranger ($3.60) was the only one to achieve the feat. A perfect seven-for-seven with $510,294 in earnings, the In Range-Big Blue Bird colt won the Next Generation and three legs of the OHSS this season in addition to scoring victories in the Ohio State Fair Stakes at Scioto and the Ohio Breeders Championship at Delaware. The final piece of that Triple Crown puzzle was Saturday’s OHSS Scarlet Championship
Jailhouse Pearl recorded the fastest mile among the four $416,667 trotting championship, winning the sophomore filly trot division in a lifetime-best 1:52.2, setting new track and stakes records. It was the first career OHSS Scarlet Championship win for driver Austin Hanners. Aunt Laura (Dexter Dunn), the 2024 OHSS champion as a two-year-old, led the field past the first three calls in :26.4, :55, and 1:23.1. On the outside of Aunt Laura, Jailhouse Pearl edged in front by a half-length entering the stretch and won by two lengths over the closing Pelican Hanover (Brett Miller) in second with Mega Money (Aaron Merriman) third.
“This was a great way to start the night,” Austin Hanners said after the race. “That filly has been awesome for me all year. The tempo was so quick, and when they came back to me, I was like, ‘I’m just going to go now,’ and she did the rest. She’s put out efforts like that all year, so I expected that when she cleared.”
Trained by Eric Nesselroad for owner Casey Clemens, Jailhouse Pearl ($10.40) entered Saturday with two OHSS wins on the season, hitting the board in 12 of 14 starts with five victories overall. The Long Tom-Jailhouse Broad filly has 15 wins and $514,305 in earnings from 29 lifetime appearances.
Lt Loverboy, the 2024 Two-Year-Old Colt Trotter of the Year and OHSS champion, scored a repeat title. The Long Tom-Fortheloveoflindy gelding won this year’s sophomore colt trot championship in 1:53.2, equalling the track record. Sitting mid-pack as the leader crossed the quarter pole in :26.2 and halfway mark in :55.3, Lt Loverboy moved up on the outside and led by a nose at the three-quarters in 1:24. He then pulled away to win by three lengths over Vekna (Kayne Kauffman) with Jet Wings (Dunn) in third.
Trained by Daren Harvey, the winner entered with wins in three of the five legs of the OHSS this season. He has now hit the board in 18 of 21 lifetime starts with 11 victories and $851,299 in earnings.
“He’s just a class horse,” Harvey said of Lt Loverboy after the race. “We were fighting him throughout the year trying to keep him together for tonight, and we got here, and he didn’t disappoint.”
Owned by Wayne Mast Jr. and Callam Racing LLC, Lt Loverboy ($11) put together a solid performance after leaving from post eight.
“It’s a great feeling, and this is a great horse,” said Walt Callam of Callam Racing of the win. “All the credit in the world goes to Daren and a great job by Brett.”
Setyoursightshigh won the freshman filly trot championship in a track-record 1:54.1. The In Range-Special Interest filly, driven by Dunn, was in third place as Demonic Niko (Gingras) led at the quarter pole in :28.3 but went to the lead and led the rest of the way. She posted fractions of :57.1 and 1:25.2 en route to winning by 6-1/2 lengths over Rose Run Brooke (Wrenn). Demonic Niko finished third.
Trained by Marcus Melander for owners Heights Stable, Mantorp LLC, AMG Stable Inc., and K Kjellgren Livs AB Inc., Setyoursightshigh ($2.60) won two OHSS legs this year. She has hit the board in all nine seasonal starts with seven wins and two seconds and has $709,324 in earnings.
“She’s a great filly. She’s been doing everything right the entire year,” Melander said. “It’s been a long season for her, but she’s still going strong.”
Eleven track records were broken or equalled on the 14-race card. Dayton Raceway also enjoyed its third-highest handle of $911,861.
Live racing returns to Dayton Raceway on Tuesday with a 4 p.m. post time.
A live stream replay of the card is available below.
(With files from Dayton Raceway and the Ohio Harness Horseman's Association)