Ocean Rock crushes them in the pacing Derby

DAYTON, OH. – For the first time in its eight year harness racing history, the $175,000 Dayton Pacing Derby produced a local winner.

Driver Dan Noble and Ocean Rock crushed a full field of North America’s best pacers in 1:48, over three lengths better than Nicholas Beach (Joe Bonjiorno) and This Is The Plan (Yannick Gingras).  The four-year-old son of Rockin Amadeus, who now owns an impressive four race win streak, has now banked $385,385 this season and over $900,000 lifetime for owner Sandra Burnett.

 “This horse has taken us on such a great ride,” exclaimed trainer Christi Noble, Dan’s wife, while holding their infant son Nash in the winner’s circle.  “We made a bridle change this week and it seemed to help,” Dan chimed in.  When informed the 1:48 clocking was just one-fifth of a second off the all-time, all-age Hollywood Dayton track standard, Noble related “He had quite a bit left in the tank at the finish!”

Noble was content to get away third in the early going, but confidently rushed Ocean Rock to the front as the field flashed by the stands the first time on the five-eighths mile oval.  Despite the noteworthy credentials of the field, Ocean Rock never experienced an anxious moment and cruised under the wire to the delight of an enthusiastic local crowd.

The handle on the 14-race Dayton Derby program was $697,053, second largest in the track’s brief existence.

View the results from Hollywood Gaming Dayton Raceway click here!

By Gregg Keidel