Top-ranked mare breaks record in $250,000 Dayton Distaff Derby

Dayton, OH — Twin B Joe Fresh (Roll With Joe-Fresh Breeze) and Jiggy Jog S (Walner-Hot Mess Hanover) headed to Saturday’s harness racing stakes action at Hollywood Dayton Raceway with top billing, and the sport’s two highest-ranked stars did not disappoint.

Twin B Joe Fresh won the $250,000 Dayton Distaff Derby for older female pacers by 4-1/2 lengths in a track-record 1:48.3 over a surface labeled “good” one race after Jiggy Jog S captured the $250,000 Dayton Oaks for older female trotters by 3-1/4 lengths in 1:52.1.

Both mares were driven by Dexter Dunn, who swept the night’s four major stakes, adding the $250,000 Dayton Trotting Derby with Logan Park and the $250,000 Dayton Pacing Derby with Abuckabett Hanover. Dunn won six races total on the card.

Twin B Joe Fresh, ranked No. 1 in the Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll, went to the lead at the start of the Dayton Distaff and posted fractions of :26.3, :54.2, and 1:21 on her way to her ninth consecutive win of the season. Sylvia Hanover finished second and Always B Naughty was third.

TWIN B JOE FRESH REPLAY

Trained by Chris Ryder, the 4-year-old Twin B Joe Fresh has nine victories and a second in 10 starts this season. For her career, the mare has won 28 of 37 races and earned $2.06 million.

Twin B Joe Fresh is owned by Ryder, Dunn, Peter Trebotica, and Barry Spak. She was bred by Brittany Farms.

In the Dayton Oaks, Dunn methodically guided Jiggy Jog S to the front as Call Me Goo and M-M’s Dream were part of a three-horse battle with Pioneer As for the lead in the opening quarter, which Call Me Goo reached in :27.1 by a nose over M-M’s Dream.

The Ake Svanstedt-trained Jiggy Jog S, though, was in front soon thereafter and never looked back, reaching the half in :55.1 and three-quarters in 1:23.3. Call Me Goo finished second and M-M’s Dream was third.

JIGGY JOG S REPLAY

Unbeaten in six races this season, Jiggy Jog S has won 24 of 41 career starts and earned $3.1 million. The 5-year-old mare became the 16th trotter in history to exceed $3 million in North American purses with Saturday’s victory. She is ranked No. 2 in the Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll.

Jiggy Jog S is owned by Ake Svanstedt Inc., Steve Stewart, John Lengacher, and Hickory Hollow Stables. She was bred by Vestmarka AB.

Dunn continued his winning ways in the Dayton Trotting Derby, driving Logan Park (Archangel-Rite Outa The Park) to victory by 1-1/4 lengths over Hillexotic in 1:52.3. It’s Academic was fourth-placed-third after Asteroid was dropped from third to seventh for interference in the opening quarter.

Logan Park got a pocket trip as Chapercraz led the way for the first three-quarters of the mile while under pressure much of the way from a first-over Southwind Tyrion. On the final turn, Southwind Tyrion began to drop back, and Dunn moved Logan Park to the outside and to the lead heading into the stretch.

LOGAN PARK REPLAY

Trained by Robert Fellows, Logan Park won for the ninth time in 14 races this season and 33rd time in 78 career starts. He has earned $1.27 million. The 6-year-old is owned by Outofthepark Stable, Reg Higgs, and Arpad Szabo. He was bred by Reg Higgs and Donna Higgs.

Dunn wrapped up his evening by piloting Abuckabett Hanover (Betting Line-All Tucked Up) to a neck victory over Little Rocket Man in 1:49.3 in the Dayton Pacing Derby. Muskateer Hanover finished third.

Abuckabett Hanover led to the opening quarter in :26.2 from post one before giving up the top spot to Little Rocket Man, who started from post eight. Little Rocket Man remained in front to the half in :54.2 and three-quarters in 1:22.1, but was being challenged by Muskateer Hanover, who had made a sustained first-over bid to draw even on the final turn.

As the field turned for home, Dunn moved Abuckabett Hanover into the passing lane and was able to get by Little Rocket Man in the final strides.

ABUCKABETT HANOVER REPLAY

Abuckabett Hanover, a 6-year-old trained by Andrew Harris, has won five of 10 races this season and 20 of 69 lifetime, earning $1.78 million. He is owned by William Pollock, Bruce Areman, and Harris. He was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms.

To read about the Ohio Sires Stakes on the card, click here.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Ken Weingartner, for the USTA