Dayton: Doo Wop Hanover has tough outside post in Pacing Derby

John Campbell has sat behind his share of top horses. In Doo Wop Hanover, who starts in Friday’s $138,500 Dayton Pacing Derby, he steers an improving 4-year-old pacer that has found his way in the older ranks.

“He’s definitely matured,” said John Campbell. “Last year when you took him to the top he didn’t respond the same way.”

The front may be the place Doo Wop Hanover has to be on Friday but that may not happen for a long time. The son of Rocknroll Hanover landed post nine in the eleventh race on a star-studded card at Dayton Raceway.

The Pacing Derby will give Doo Wop Hanover a chance for back-to-back scores in Ohio, having captured the $225,000 Ewart at Scioto on September 12.

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“He went a big mile at Scioto,” said Campbell, who wasn’t in the bike that night due to a conflicting schedule.

A solid field has been assembled for the Pacing Derby with the well traveled Foiled Again set to make his 240th career start in the event. Driven by Yannick Gingras, Foiled Again drew post seven. While he has just one win during his 11-year-old campaign, Foiled Again is always a factor when his nose is on the gate. The Ron Burke-trained winner of over $7.1 million enters the Derby off a solid second-place finish in the Quillen at Harrington on September 21.

Divisional leader State Treasurer saw his winning streak stopped at four in the Ewart and will look to bounce back from post five with Dave Miller in the bike. Trainer Ian Moore has kept State Treasurer in stellar form, resulting in major victories in the Canadian Pacing Derby, U.S. Pacing Championship and Roll With Joe. The 6-year-old has won eight times in just 15 starts in 2015.

Trainer Ron Burke has the luxury of a stable filled with high class performers. Joining Foiled Again in the Derby is the $1.5 million winner All Bets Off. The offspring of Bettor’s Delight drew post three with Matt Kakaley in the bike as usual. All Bets Off followed Doo Wop Hanover home in the Ewart but has a decided post advantage here.

Shamballa has had an impressive campaign in Ontario this summer including a second-place finish behind State Treasurer in the Canadian Pacing Derby. A winner in eight of his 14 starts this year Shamballa landed post four for trainer-driver Rick Zeron.

Trainer Brian Brown came within a whisker of capturing his first Little Brown Jug a week ago. He comes to Dayton with a pair for the Derby. Santa Fe Beachboy and Beach Memories will start from posts two and eight, respectively. Santa Fe Beachboy arrives in great shape having captured the Steck Memorial at Scioto in 1:49 4/5 on September 12. Beach Memories steps up in class here and will have his work cut out for him.

While Campbell knows the outside will make his job difficult on Friday, the Hall of Fame driver has managed to overcome obstacles his entire career. With most of us still caught up in last week’s gallant win from Wiggle It Jiggleit in the Little Brown Jug, Campbell remembered a tough-trip Jug win of his own. “I screwed up the drive (behind Life Sign in the 1993 Jug),” Campbell said, looking back on the historic victory. “He did the rest. I still remember what it was like with all of the people giving the horse a standing ovation long after the race was over.”