Dayton: Hannelore Hanover favored to win Trotting Derby

Hollywood Dayton Raceway will proudly present the fourth annual Dayton Trotting and Pacing Derbies on Friday night (Sept. 29). The 17 horses entered in the track’s signature events have combined earnings of $19,615,182 with 347 wins, including most of the major stakes throughout North America.

Hannelore Hanover has been tabbed as the 2-1 morning line favorite in the $167,000 Dayton Trotting Derby despite drawing the 7-hole for driver Matt Kakaley and trainer Ron Burke. The 5-year-old mare (one of two in the field) has earned over $2 million and recently beat her male counterparts in the Maple Leaf Trot in Toronto. Homocide Hunter (Brett Miller) is the 3-1 second choice, despite being saddled with the outside No. 8 post position, on the merits of a track record 1:51 2/5 score in the Centaur Trot at Hoosier Park in Indiana last Friday. JL Cruze (David Miller) will open as the third choice in the wagering (9-2 odds) from the coveted No. 1 post position.

Completing the talented trotting field will be Musical Rhythm (Jason Brewer), Warrawee Roo (Daniel Dube), Pasithea Face S (Tim Tetrick), Centurion ATM (Aaron Merriman) and Crazy Wow (Chris Page).

McWicked (David Miller) has been named the lukewarm favorite in the $140,000 Dayton Pacing Derby. The $2 million winner, conditioned by Casie Coleman, scored an impressive victory in Scioto Downs’ Jim Ewart Memorial earlier this month. Rockin Ron (Matt Kakaley) will open at 3-1 as the fastest record horse in the field—a 1:47 2/5 triumph in an elimination of the Canadian Pacing Derby in late August. Check Six (Chris Page) and Missile J (Tim Tetrick) will also get support at the betting windows, opening at 4-1 and 9-2, respectively.

Other competitors in the pacing feature will be Luck Be Withyou (Brett Miller), Easy Lover Hanover (Doug McNair), Dealt A Winner (Aaron Merriman), Boston Red Rocks (Brett Miller also listed) and Mach It So (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.).

Final driver changes are due by noon on Tuesday (Sept. 26).

Post time for the 14-race program on Friday is 6:15 p.m. The Dayton Trotting Derby will be Race 10 with an estimated 9:30 p.m. off-time; while the Dayton Pacing Derby will be two races later at approximately 10:15 p.m.

-edited realease (Dayton)