Dayton: Harrisburg Heist, Twin B Joe Fresh capture Pacing Derby, Distaff Derby
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Harrisburg Heist pulled off a 25-1 upset while Twin B Joe Fresh picked up her first win since the Clara Barton back on July 19 in the Dayton Pacing Derby and Dayton Distaff Derby on Saturday night at Dayton Raceway.
In the Grade 2 $250,000 Dayton Pacing Derby for stallions and geldings, Best Chip (Joe Bongiorno) showed speed from post nine and cleared Ken Hanover (Tim Tetrick) for the lead beyond the 26 second opening quarter. Best Chip then got to the half in 54 seconds as Ervin Hanover (Dexter Dunn) began a first-over march out of the fifth spot, giving cover to Harrisburg Heist (Chris Page) and Coaches Corner (Jason Bartlett).
Best Chip was able to keep Ervin Hanover at bay to three-quarters in 1:21 2/5 and around the last turn, but in the stretch Page swung Harrisburg Heist off Ervin Hanover's cover, and he rallied by Best Chip late, prevailing by three-quarters of a length in 1:49 1/5. Best Chip was second, though he was a pari-mutuel refund for suffering broken equipment before the start. Women Layer (Yannick Gingras) advanced in the passing lane to get third, followed by Coaches Corner and Ken Hanover.
Ron Burke trains Harrisburg Heist, a 4-year-old Downbytheseaside gelding, for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Knox Services Inc., Phil Collura and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. Harrisburg Heist, bred by Brittany Farms and Marvin Katz, has 21 wins, four seconds and six thirds from 46 starts, has earned $920,462 and paid $53.80 to win.
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Later on the program, Twin B Joe Fresh won the Grade 1 $250,000 Dayton Distaff Derby for the third straight year. Co-owner/driver Dunn showed speed with her from post six and cleared Unreasonable (Todd McCarthy) for the top spot after the 26 1/5 quarter. Dunn then got to the half in just 55 2/5 with Twin B Joe Fresh, which left him plenty in reserve to deal with a first-over bid from Rodeo Drive Deo (Gingras) to three-quarters in 1:22 3/5 and around the last turn.
Twin B Joe Fresh would put Rodeo Drive Deo away at the top of the stretch and then pulled away to score by a length and three-quarters in 1:49 2/5 with Rodeo Drive Deo second over Unreasonable. Champagne Room (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) got fourth, followed by Rocket Deo (Scott Zeron).
Trainer Chris Ryder also co-owns Twin B Joe Fresh with Dunn, Peter Trebotica and Barry Spak. The Brittany Farms-bred 6-year-old Roll With Joe mare has a summary of 40-12-3 from 60 outings, has banked $3,250,170 and returned $3.80 to win as the favorite.
Surreal Ideal (Tetrick) won a $75,000 Dayton Pacing Derby consolation from first-up in 1:49, defeating pace-setter Calicojack Hanover (Gingras) by a quarter of a length. Swingtown (Wrenn Jr.) got third.
Vernon Beachy sent out Surreal Ideal, an 8-year-old gelded son of So Surreal bred by 3 Brothers Stables, for owners 518 Group LLC. and Gitup Racing. He made his 46th trip to the winner's circle, has pocketed $756,522 and paid $21 to win.