World record set in five-eighths dash

LEBANON, OH – In what is believed to be a World Record time, Nuclear Dragon (Jeremy Smith) scorched the Miami Valley harness racing track in a once around 5/8ths mile dash in 1:07 flat on Monday (Feb. 28). The quickest prior 5/8th mile dash on a 5/8th track belonged to Toatsmygoats (Tim Tetrick) with a 1:07.1 effort on May 27, 2018 at Harrah’s Philadelphia.

The record performance came in the first division of the first leg of the Bill Dailey Memorial Medley. Leg 2 will be contested at the conventional one-mile distance, with a $30,000 championship at 1-1/4 miles (2 laps) on tap Monday, March 14.

The fields were comprised of horses that had not raced for a purse over $15,000 in their last three starts.

Although Nuclear Dragon had not been on the front end at any point in any of his previous eight starts, Smith pushed the gate away with the 10-year-old son of Nuclear Breeze and was in full command by the time the quarter was reached in :26.3.

With Smith having no thoughts of grabbing any leather, he and Nuclear Dragon tacked on a second quarter in :27 before adding a final eighth mile in :13.2.

The winner, owned by Tonya Nichols and trained by Jason Brewer, lengthened his lead to seven lengths at the finish over Captain Zamperini (Brett Miller) and Don’t Judge A Book (Billy Mann).

The second Dailey Memorial dash was captured by Americanfirewater, also guided by Jeremy Smith. It is possible that the 1:07.4 clocking was the third fastest one lap dash in North American harness history.

The 8-year-old son of American Ideal beat One Corona To Go (Kayne Kauffman) and Later Dudes (Chris Page) who made the outcome interesting in deep stretch. Trainer Ken Rucker co-owns Americanfirewater with The Panhellenic Stable Corporation.

The $30,000 Open Handicap Trot on the card also produced a stellar performance. Pass The Vape (Dan Noble) employed a first over attack on frontrunning Jeffery P (Page) to triumph in 1:53. Longshot Country Girl Charm (LeWayne Miller) was next best with Pick Me Upper (Tony Hall) nabbing the show spot.

Andre Nared trains the 7-year-old son of Dejarmbro for owner Lionel Watiker. It was the 30th lifetime victory for Pass The Vape who has career earnings approaching $600,000.

The Tuesday (March 1) program at Miami Valley features first leg action in the Howard Beissinger Memorial Medley, which will follow the same format as the Dailey. Post time is 4:05 p.m.