Battle lines have been drawn for Friday’s $171,250 Dayton Trotting Derby as well as the $151,750 Dayton Pacing Derby at Hollywood Dayton Raceway.
The seventeen horses in the combined fields have accumulated a whopping 376 victories and amassed over $20 million in career earnings.
McWicked
McWicked (to be driven by Brian Sears) has received the ever-so-slight 5-2 favourite’s nod over 3-1 This Is The Plan (Yannick Gingras) and 4-1 Western Fame (Dan Noble) on the morning line for the Dayton Pacing Derby.
McWicked tops the eight combatants with $4.6 million in lifetime earnings, although five of the other seven have also earned over $1 million. McWicked, the distinguished eight-year-old trained by Casie Coleman, has won a host of the sport’s most prestigious races, including the Breeders Crown, Canadian Pacing Derby, William Haughton Memorial, Progress Pace and the Adios. His 2019 triumphs include the Jim Ewart Memorial, the Roll With Joe and the Gerrity Memorial.
This Is The Plan copped the Hoosier Park Pacing Derby in his most recent start. Western Fame paced the second fastest mile in Dayton Raceway history (1:48.1) in his local tune up. Last year’s Little Brown Jug winner, Courtly Choice (Brett Miller, 9-2), is sure to be heard from in the contest, as are Filibuster Hanover (Matt Kakaley, 6-1), defending champion and Dayton track record holder Donttellmeagain (Tim Tetrick, 8-1), Jimmy Freight (Scott Zeron, 10-1), and Endeavor (Sam Widger, 12-1). In total, the Dayton Pacing Derby field has visited winner’s circles 168 times and banked over $13.2 million in purses.
$151,750 Dayton Pacing Derby
(Post – Horse – Driver – Morning Line Odds)
1 – McWicked – Brian Sears – 5-2
2 – Courtly Choice – Brett Miller – 9-2
3 – Filibuster Hanover – Matt Kakaley – 6-1
4 – Western Fame – Dan Noble – 4-1
5 – This Is The Plan – Yannick Gingras – 3-1
6 – Jimmy Freight – Scott Zeron – 10-1
7 – Endeavor – Sam Widger – 12-1
8 – Donttellmeagain – Tim Tetrick – 8-1
Mission Accepted
Mission Accepted (Yannick Gingras) has been installed the 2-1 morning line favourite for the Dayton Trotting Derby. The early favouritism was based largely on his impressive runner-up finish in the recent Caesars Trotting Classic at Hoosier Park. The former Ohio Sires Stakes champion by Manofmanymissions is trained by Ron Burke. Mission Accepted will be seeking his fifth win of the season and will surpass a quarter million dollars in earnings with any cheque on Friday.
Manchego (Dexter Dunn), one of two mares in the elite field, has been installed at odds of 7-2 odds for trainer Nancy Johansson. The four-year-old $1.7 million earner by Muscle Hill was a Breeders Crown winner at two and a Hambletonian Oaks champion at three. Speeding Spur N (Brian Sears) has been assessed at 4-1 on the morning line. By far the oldest horse in the race, the eight-year-old by Pegasus Spur captured the $148,000 Crawford Farms stakes at Tioga Downs six weeks ago for trainer Linda Toscano.
Others that will be descending on Dayton on Friday are Custom Cantab (Aaron Merriman, 9-2), Fiftydallarbill (Tim Tetrick, 6-1), Two O B Wonkenobi (Brett Miller, 8-1), Bridge To Jesses (David Miller, 10-1), I Know My Chip (Jeremy Smith, 12-1) and Elmo Blatch (Jason Beattie, 15-1).
$171,250 Dayton Trotting Derby
(Post – Horse – Driver – Morning Line Odds)
1 – Mission Accepted – Yannick Gingras – 2-1
2 – Fiftydallarbill – Tim Tetrick – 6-1
3 – Bridge To Jesses – David Miller – 10-1
4 – Speeding Spur N – Brian Sears – 4-1
5 – I Know My Chip – Jeremy Smith – 12-1
6 – Manchego – Dexter Dunn – 7-2
7 – Two O B Wonkenobi – Brett Miller – 8-1
8 – Elmo Blatch – Jason Beattie – 15-1
9 – Custom Cantab – Aaron Merriman – 9-2
Post time for the stellar Friday night card at Hollywood Dayton will be at 6:15 p.m. Estimated post time for the Dayton Trotting Derby is 9 p.m. and the Dayton Pacing Derby, slated for two races later, is expected to face the starter at approximately 9:40 p.m.
(With files from Hollywood Dayton Raceway)