Dayton: Back Of The Neck goes back-to-back in Dayton Trotting Derby

Back Of The Neck won the $250,000 Dayton Trotting Derby for older horses and geldings for the second straight year, prevailing from first-up in 1:53 1/5 over the five-eighths-mile Hollywood Gaming Dayton Raceway oval.

Jujubee (Andy McCarthy) rolled to the point from post five and hit the quarter in 27 3/5 and the half in 56 3/5, with Back Of The Neck (Tim Tetrick) stepping out first-over from fourth as the field raced in front of the stands for the first time.

Going to the 1:24 2/5 three-quarters, Back Of The Neck moved up into second on the outside of Jujubee, and they would continue to tussle around the last turn and into the lane. Waiting for room from the pocket was Rattle My Cage (Ake Svanstedt), and those three got some separation on the others as Lovedbythemasses (Todd McCarthy) was unable to keep up with Back Of The Neck from second-over.

In the stretch Back Of The Neck finally forged his way by Jujubee and held sway after that to score by half a length over stablemate Rattle Of My Cage. Jujubee faded to third, Balenciaga (Mark MacDonald) had some late trot while in tight quarters to get fourth, and It's Academic (David Miller) advanced from seventh to fifth.

"He handles really well. Luckily I got to pick up the drive. Ake and Sarah gave me a call and saw if I wanted to drive him. It's all worked out good so far," said Tetrick, who won the Maple Leaf Trot with Back Of The Neck in his last start. "He's easy to drive, just stay with him and keep his mind on his business. He's a professional. He knows how to get the job done.

"There were some good horses in there. My horse was out a long way and he had to earn it. He was getting tired, but he put his nose out in front and kept it there."

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Svanstedt trains Back Of The Neck, a 5-year-old Ready Cash stallion, for owners Howard Taylor, Order By Stable, and Judith Taylor. He made his 13th appearance in the winner's circle, he has now banked $1,190,175, and he returned $4.60 to win.

"It's hard to tell," Sarah Svanstedt responded when asked if Back Of The Neck was the best older trotter now in the Svanstedt barn. "I love him, I love Alrajah One, and I love Ecurie D. They are like different personalities and different horses and different race styles. As of now, he is for sure on top of his game."

Sarah Svanstedt added that Back Of The Neck was likely heading to Lexington unless an unamed race that she was wishing for became an option for him, likely the $1 million Yonkers International Trot on October 15.