Hollywood Dayton: Rockin Ron becomes a millionaire after Dayton Pacing Derby score

A big stretch rally carried Rockin Ron to a 1:50 2/5 win in the $140,000 Dayton Pacing Derby for open pacers on Friday night at Hollywood Gaming Dayton Raceway, and the winner's share of the purse made the 5-year-old harness racing's newest millionaire.

Luck Be Withyou (Brett Miller) shot through from the pole position to take the group of nine to the opening quarter in 26 3/5, and while he was still in the lead at the 54 4/5 half, a parked-out Boston Red Rocks (Josh Sutton) had moved up to challenge him. Dealt A Winner (Aaron Merriman) was positioned second-over, and he was followed in the outer flow by Missile J (Tim Tetrick) and Rockin Ron (Matt Kakaley).

Despite the rough journey Boston Red Rocks got the advantage on the outside at the 1:21 4/5 three-quarters, but he couldn't clear Luck Be Withyou completely, which allowed him to battle back on the inside around the far turn and regain control entering the stretch.

With the hot fractions and battle up front, things were ripe for the closers to take over, and Rockin Ron came wide and rallied by late to win by a length and three-quarters over Dealt A Winner. Missile J was up for third, followed by Easy Lover Hanover (Doug McNair) and Mach It So (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.).

Kakaley had the plan to race Rockin Ron from off-the-pace, and it worked out to perfection.

"I was trying to just one-run him, and it worked out good," he stated. "He races pretty hard every week, so I just wanted to trip him out tonight."

Rockin Ron is a 5-year-old Real Desire gelding trained by Ron Burke for the ownership group of Burke Racing Stable LLC., Weaver Bruscemi LLC., and RTC Stables Inc. Rockin Ron now has 27 wins in his life and earnings of $1,006,107. A 5-1 shot, Rockin Ron returned $12.60 to win.