OSS finals and Dayton Derbies drawn for state’s richest racing card
At 0h03, on September 30, 2022 • By Ashley Dailey, OHHA Public Relations Ambassador
The biggest day in Ohio’s racing history is quickly approaching. On Saturday (Oct. 1) Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway will boast the Buckeye State’s richest card with $3.4 million in purses for eight Ohio Sires Stakes championship finals and four Dayton Derby Grand Circuit events. First post is 6:30 p.m.
The $300,000 Ohio Sires Stakes championships will take the stage first. Four horses will make their last dash to earn the elusive Ohio Triple Crown title. After winning the Ohio State Fair at Eldorado Scioto Downs and Ohio Breeders Championship at the Delaware County Fair, Fear Of Sports, Rose Run Yolanda, Racing Rampage, and Gabbys C Note will eye the crown in their respective divisions.
The recent 2022 Little Brown Jug winner Bythemissal will also try to claim the OSS championship in race 11. Driven by Chris Page, the Downbytheseaside gelding will leave from post two. Despite being lightly raced his freshman year, Bythemissal has bankrolled $833,525 in lifetime earnings in just 13 starts. The Ron Burke trainee will look toward four in a row with the OSS victory.
A quartet of $250,000 Grand Circuit events will round out the top-notch program. The nation’s top performers will meet in the Dayton Oaks Derby for older trotting mares, the Dayton Trotting Derby for older horses and geldings, the Dayton Distaff for older pacing mares, and the Dayton Derby for older horse and gelding pacers.
To none’s surprise, Bulldog Hanover will highlight the card in the Dayton Derby from post eight. The start at Hollywood Dayton will be a test to the 4-year-old pacer’s ability as he visits a smaller five-eighths-mile track from an outside post. Bulldog Hanover is the unanimous No. 1 choice in the Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll for trainer Jack Darling.
