Hollywood Dayton: Record mile for Manchego in Dayton Trotting Derby romp

Manchego may have missed three weeks of racing action, but there was no way to tell the difference as the 4-year-old mare marched out powerfully to a 1:50 1/5 North American mark in capturing the $171,250 Dayton Trotting Derby for free-for-allers on Friday night at Hollywood Gaming Dayton Raceway.

Dexter Dunn wasted no time with the daughter of Muscle Hill, getting her airborne in the early stages and driving to command into the opening turn. Dunn had the quarter in 26 3/5 but wasn't alone as Custom Cantab and driver Aaron Merriman went on the offensive from post nine and tried to wrestle the lead away.

Dunn would have none of it, and it appeared as if Manchego also had her mind set on cutting the pace. With a half in a blistering 54 seconds, one may have had the impression that the race would set up for the closers, but Manchego smoked her third quarter in 28 2/5, and in doing so lost the outer tier as Mission Accepted tried to go wide but made no impact on the mare.

Turning into the homestretch it was essentially a race against the clock, and Manchego sparkled with a 27 4/5 final quarter and a comfortable open-lengths triumph. Fiftydallarbill rallied from well-back for second, with I Know My Chip and Mission Accepted in third and fourth, respectively.

Black Horse Racing owns Manchego, now a winner four times in a dozen starts as a 4-year-old. Nancy Johansson trains the winner who returned $5.80.

Manchego will race in the $250,000 Harry Harvey at Yonkers on the undercard of the International Trot on Saturday, October 12 according to Johansson. The mare has never raced on a half.

"She's perfect on the turns, so it shouldn't be a problem," said Johansson.