The stars will be out in force on Saturday night as Hollywood Gaming Dayton Raceway hosts the best older pacers and trotters of both sexes in four $250,000 Dayton Derbies over the five-eighths-mile track. The races drew a who's who of the sport's elite, and the number-one ranked horse in North America – Twin B Joe Fresh – will again be in the spotlight as she looks for her ninth consecutive victory in the Dayton Distaff Derby, race nine on the evening program. "I'm really happy with her," said Chris Ryder about Twin B Joe Fresh, a 4-year-old mare that he trains and co-owns along with Dexter Dunn, who will once again be at the controls behind the gifted daughter of Roll With Joe on Saturday. "We shipped her in today (Wednesday) and she's at a farm about 30 minutes from the track." The well-traveled Twin B Joe Fresh returns to Ohio following a victory in the Milton Stakes at Woodbine Mohawk Park on September 14 where she defeated arch-rival Sylvia Hanover once again. While Sylvia Hanover proved the dominant of the two in 2023 when the pair were sophomores, the battles have taken on a different perspective this year, with Sylvia Hanover winless when the two mares have faced each other. That could be something that is on the verge of change as Sylvia Hanover showed some renewed life in her second-place finish behind Twin B Joe Fresh in the Milton. For trainer Ryder, keeping his mare fit and happy has been on schedule throughout the year. "Her races have come about every two weeks and we've been able to train her to keep her fit," said Ryder, who was happy that Twin B Joe Fresh drew well for the Dayton Distaff, landing post three inside of Sylvia Hanover's post four. There will be nine mares contending for the Dayton Distaff while Twin B Joe Fresh once again is expected to be the odds-on favorite. Prior to her Milton conquest Twin B Joe Fresh blitzed Scioto Downs on August 17, capturing the Cleopatra for catch-driver Brett Miller in a 1:48 2/5 clocking. Whether on the lead or coming from off-the-pace, Twin B Joe Fresh has finished powerfully throughout the year and Ryder is hopeful the winning continues as he maps a strategy to close out the campaign. "She's eligible for a race at The Red Mile," said Ryder. "I'm not sure we’ll go there. I think going back home (New Jersey) and getting her ready for the Breeders Crown will be the plan." Prohibition Legal, second to Grace Hill in the 2024 edition of the Dayton Distaff Derby, returns for a second chance at the coveted title. Trainer Nick Gallucci will have Scott Zeron in the bike from post five. ► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter Good post positions have been few and far between this year for Abuckabett Hanover. Still, the veteran son of Betting Line is in the midst of a career year for trainer Andrew Harris, and he hopes to regain his winning form in the $250,000 Dayton Pacing Derby, race 11 on the 14-race card. "He's only had one bad race all year and he scoped sick after that," said Harris of his stable's star. "I was happy with his last race (Hoosier Park Pacing Derby) because he had to be used in the early going and was still fighting to the end." Indeed, Abuckabett Hanover started from post eight in the event at Harrah's Hoosier Park on September 20 and finished a solid second behind Little Rocket Man, a horse he'll meet again on Saturday. "Drawing inside on a five-eighths mile track should help," said Harris, who expects Abuckabett Hanover to race at Lexington in the coming weeks before returning to New Jersey in search of the Breeders Crown title. The road through the Dayton Derby won't be an easy one with Little Rocket Man in career form and seeming to get better with each year he races. Trainer Ken Rucker has done an outstanding job with the 8-year-old by Rockin Image, sending him out to 11 wins this year in 14 tries. That record could be in jeopardy on Saturday with the outside draw, as well as talent inside. Last year's North America Cup champion It's My Show (post two) took a bit of a shuffle in the Harrah's Hoosier Park Pacing Derby and shook loose too late to threaten. Prior to that the 4-year-old captured the Canadian Pacing Derby at Woodbine Mohawk Park, nosing out Abuckabett Hanover on the wire. Sam McKee Memorial upsetter Rocknroll Runa A (post three) has not won since that August 3 event at the Meadowlands but hasn't had the luck of the draw either as he will on Saturday. An imported son of Rock N Roll Heaven, Rocknroll Runa A is looking for his eighth win of the year. Dan Patch winner Dunkin' drew post nine for trainer Scott Di Domenico, but the 4-year-old by Pet Rock has dealt with adversity before and surprised. Dunkin' showed a 25 3/5 final quarter while finishing fourth in the Harrah's Hoosier Park Pacing Derby, and the hardy sort will be making his 30th start of the year, the most of any in this nine-horse field. The other two Dayton Derby races on the card with a 6:30 P.M. (EDT) post time feature older trotters, with Twin B Joe Fresh's main competition for Horse of the Year, the undefeated Jiggy Jog, going to post in race eight versus the girls and a wide-open affair in the tenth race male Trotting Derby. Trainer Harris was quite active at last year's Lexington Selected Sale and wasn't tipping his hand as to what his activity may be at this year's auction. On the racing side, Harris is looking forward to the next start for Voguish. The $535,000 buy at last year's Harrisburg Sale recently captured the $222,000 Kentuckiana Stallion Management at Harrah's Hoosier Park in a dead-heat. "She's been good right from the start," said Harris of the Gimpanzee-sired filly.  "She'll race the second week at The Red Mile." While Harris and partners made some expensive yearling purchases, the selection of Voguish may prove to be the biggest bargain. Not only does the filly have high earning potential, but her half-sister Crucial gave the immediate family its second Mohawk Million winner when Maryland captured the event on September 21. Voguish is also a half-sister to the 2021 Mohawk Million champion Venerable.