Dayton: Record handle achieved on Thursday night

Closing week in December always brings big handles and tonight was no exception. Dayton's faithful bettors were out in full force for the final Thursday of the meet, wagering an all-time Dayton record of $1.286 million. This was just the second million-dollar night in Dayton's history, with the first coming last year when Dayton hosted Ohio Super Night for the first time. Dayton Raceway thanks the bettors, the fans and the horsemen for helping us make this happen!

As for the racing action on tonight's record-setting card, Jermey Smith continued his hot hand by taking five races, and amazingly enough for Dayton's leading driver, none of them were favorites. He started off by sweeping the early double with Salty Robyn N ($5.00) for trainer Antonia Storer and Unlikeanyother ($6.80) for trainer Tessa Perrin. He continued with an upset winner in the featured Open Handicap with Barry's Berries ($29.00).

In the Open Handicap, Brookville Bullet left hard from post four to take the field past the opening quarter in 26 1/5. Favorite Tellmeaboutit, with Sam Widger, then rushed up to take command past a half in 54 2/5. By that time, Smith was first-over and pressuring for the lead as they raced noses apart past three-quarters in 1:21 2/5. As they dueled down the stretch, Barry's Berries would inch ahead and win by a nose in 1:50. It was his first win of the year in the Steve Carter barn since his recent claim.

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Smith picked up his fourth win and second of the night for Carter with Beyond Delight ($11.00) in the seventh. He didn't wait long for number five, picking it up in the next race with Always At My Place ($14.80) for trainer Larry Finn. That made it a collective total of $66.60 on his winners for the night.

Dayton will be back in action Friday and Saturday night with our final two cards of the year. Post time, as always, is at 4 p.m. See you at the races!

--press release (Dayton)--