Fanatic and Refined, a pair of four-year-old newcomers to the open trotting ranks at Hollywood Dayton Raceway, dominated a compact field of six on Thursday afternoon.
Fanatic (Josh Sutton), who left the gate alertly and cut all the fractions, had a sizeable open lengths advantage at the head of the stretch, but just barely managed to hold off fast-closing Refined (Brett Miller) in 1:55.3 over a rain-soaked 'sloppy' track.
Sutton got Fanatic to the top in a relatively soft :28 opening panel, then advanced unchallenged through a pair of :29 middle quarters. With an approximate five length margin as the field turned for home it looked like the son of Cantab Hall had free sailing to the wire, but Refined had other ideas. With a furious closing rush the daughter of Uncle Peter made it interesting at the finish by falling just a nose short. Cash Hit (Ricky Macomber) garnered the show dough.
Black Magic Racing LLC of Ohio owns Fanatic, who now sports ten career triumphs and $149,432 in earnings. Todd Luther trains the winner, who paid $7.40 to win.
(Hollywood Dayton Raceway)