"It's kind of nice. We had him at the beginning of his career as a 2- and 3-year-old and we've got him now. Everybody loves him," said Dr. Ian Moore about Tattoo Artist, the likely favorite for Saturday's $250,000 Dayton Pacing Derby and leading aged pacer in North America following his dramatic victory in the Canadian Pacing Derby. "When horses get his age [6-year-old] they have persistent issues. He's got his but we're working through them," said Moore. Tattoo Artist has been going at it hard each year, racing against the best quality of horses early and now late in his racing career. On Saturday he hopes to bring his win streak to five with a win in the Dayton Derby that goes as race 14 on a stakes-filled card. "I think Louis Roy has made a big difference for him," said Moore, giving credit to the driver who picked up the assignment for the Canadian Pacing Derby and his been there ever since. "He's been able to race him from off-the-pace, put him first-over and cut the mile, and the results have been great." Indeed, Tattoo Artist has been brilliant and returns to Ohio where he won the Ewart Memorial on September 9 at Scioto Downs by open lengths despite having to race without cover for an extended period. Even more impressive perhaps was his return to racing last Saturday (September 23) where he went wire-to-wire in a $75,000 FFA at Woodbine Mohawk Park and paced to a 1:47 3/5 victory with a 25 3/5 last quarter. Always blessed with plenty of early speed, Tattoo Artist, at this stage of his career, has blossomed into a versatile horse for Moore and Roy. "He's got the same girl taking care of him now as he did when he was 2 and 3," said Moore, perhaps referring to the difference in Tattoo Artist's rebirth over the last six weeks. "I think another big thing might be that we've backed off on training him after his races. I did train him lightly before his last race, but that was because he hadn't raced in two weeks." The field is stacked for the Dayton Derby, with Tattoo Artist (post five) in the middle of the field of nine for Roy, and trainer Ron Burke sending out a trio of quality horses, Lou's Pearlman (post four), Bythemissal (post seven) and Hellabalou (post nine). Lou's Pearlman went a wicked trip in a return to form in the Harrah's Hoosier Park Pacing Derby (September 22), finishing second behind Allywag Hanover. Bythemissal was tracked down by Tattoo Artist in the Canadian Pacing Derby (September 2) and hopes to avenge that defeat in the Dayton Derby. It was a rare off-the-board effort for the 4-year-old Ohio-sired champion after an arduous journey in the Harrah's Hoosier Pacing Derby. Allywag Hanover drew post eight and is looking for another victory after the 1:47 3/5 effort in the Harrah's Hoosier Park Pacing Derby. The 6-year-old went over the $2 million mark in career earnings with that effort. Charlie May often comes up with his best performances when it is least expected, and he could find himself in striking position from post six. The 5-year-old has not missed the board in 10 starts this year. Linedrive Hanover has been beset by tough post draws in major races and landed post three for trainer Anthony Beaton in the Dayton Derby. The Betting Line-sired gelding could be sitting on a big mile. ► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter The $250,000 Dayton Oaks Derby (race 11) kicks off four consecutive races for the best older pacers and trotters of each sex on the program. A rematch of stars Jiggy Jog S (post seven) and M-M's Dream (post nine) kicks off the action, with the former making her first start since a second-place finish in the $1 million MGM Yonkers International Trot on September 9. M-M's Dream has been more active, with an overland victory in the Miss Versatility final at the Delaware County Fairgrounds on September 21, her seventh win in 10 starts this year. The Dayton Distaff Derby (race 12) also goes for $250,000 and should be a barn-burner with Grace Hill, a recent exceptional winner in the Milton Stakes at Woodbine Mohawk Park, landing post nine in the field. The Virgil Morgan Jr.-trained mare paced to a 1:48 mile in the September 16 contest. "We gave her a couple of weeks off to freshen her up for the Woodbine race," said Morgan Jr. "She's been good in every start. I think in those Meadowlands races some of those mares were sharper than they had been." As for Saturday's contest, "It's going to be tough from post nine, but Doug [McNair] has done a great job with her this year, and I expect her to race well," said Morgan. Trainer Nick Gallucci brings a solid pair into the race, with multiple stakes winner Silver Label (post two) and the resurgent Prohibition Legal (post three) in prime positions to prosper. Silver Label has won eight of her 15 starts this year, but Prohibition Legal could be the better of the two currently following her second-place finish in the Milton in just her third start as a 4-year-old. The Dayton Trotting Derby (race 13) seems a battle in numbers, with trainer Ake Svanstedt sending out three and trainer Ron Burke two in the field of nine. For Svanstedt, the reappearance of Alrajah One following a year's absence was most impressive as the 7-year-old catapulted off cover to capture the Maple Leaf Trot in 1:50 2/5 at Woodbine Mohawk Park on September 2. Alrajah One will have to overcome a solid field on Saturday and the outside post nine in the field. Svanstedt will also send out Southwind Tyrion (post six) and Incommunicado (post seven), with the latter fresh off a victory in the Hill Memorial at Scioto Downs on September 9. Burke's brigade brings forth Hillexotic (post three) and It's Academic (post five), with the latter having a career year. It's Academic won the Caesars Trotting Classic at Harrah's Hoosier Park on September 22, his eighth win in 13 starts this season. It's Academic was a pace-setting runner-up in the Maple Leaf Trot and has drawn well enough to turn the tables on his rivals on Saturday. The 14-race Dayton Raceway program on Saturday begins at 5:00 p.m. and also includes eight $75,000 Buckeye Stallion Series finals for 2- and 3-year-old Ohio-sired horses.