Foiled Again and Creatine have been installed as the morning line favourites for the $122,000 Dayton Pacing Derby and $160,000 Dayton Trotting Derby when the new track presents its first-ever Grand Circuit stakes on Friday night.
Both will have plenty of competition, however, as the sixteen horses in the two races have combined earnings of $22,982,846—an average of $1,436,428.
As the richest harness horse in history, Foiled Again (Yannick Gingras) has been designated the slight favourite in the pace at 9-5 opening odds.
Stablemate Clear Vision (Brett Miller), who will be uncoupled in the wagering with Ohio State Racing Commission permission, will launch at 2-1 when the betting windows open.
Also expected to get ample public support is local track record holder Dancin Yankee (Tyler Buter), a $15,000 supplement to the race who comes in off two consecutive wins at Dayton in aged Ohio Sires Stakes action. Based largely on his recent 1:51 triumph at Dayton, he’ll open at 7-2, just better than Night Pro (Ronnie Wrenn, Jr.) who will open at 9-2 from the rail.
Others in the elite field of seven will be Apprentice Hanover (Jody Jamieson) at 6-1, Santa Fe Beachboy (Josh Sutton) 8-1 and Beach Memories (Dave Palone) 10-1.
A full field of nine have declared into the trot with Creatine (Dan Noble), based on wins in both the American National and Allerage stakes in his last two starts, earning 5-2 morning line favouritism.
Market Share (Tim Tetrick), the richest of four millionaire trotters in the field, is second choice at 3-1, followed by Wishing Stone (Gingras) at 7-2 and Daylon Magician (Jack Moiseyev) at 9-2.
There are a host of longshot possibilities for punters looking for longer odds. A case can be made for every horse in the field as all have won in 1:53 or faster this season. DWs NY Yank (Miller) 6-1, Fusion Man (TBA) 8-1, Fearless Man (Rick Zeron) 10-1, Opening Night (Wrenn Jr.) 12-1 and Southwind Pepino (Hugh Beatty) are the other combatants.
First race post time is 6:35 p.m. on Friday night with the Dayton Derbies slated as races 11 and 12 on the 14-race program.
(Hollywood Dayton Raceway)