Oh Look Magic impressive in $18,000 trot

Oh Look Magic (Lookslikeachpndale) used his rail starting position and a confident drive from Chris Page to score an impressive win in the $18,000 Open trot on Wednesday (Nov. 18) at Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway.

Famous Father (Luke Plano) was aggressively driven away from the gate, putting Oh Look Magic in the pocket in the opening panel in a quick :26.2.

Page pulled on the right line of Oh Look Magic, retook the lead and was able to get a :29.2 second quarter breather.

Oh Look Magic extended the lead down the backstretch and before the three-quarters in 1:23.3.

The heavy favorite cruised to a 3 ¼ length win in 1:52.2.

Flagman (Rick Plano) edged out Easter Jack (Brett Miller) and Triathlon As (Jeremy Smith) for the place spot.

Ron Burke trains the five-year-old Lookslikeachpndale gelding for the Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi.

Just one race earlier, a three-horse photo finish resulted in a dead heat for win in the $10,000 filly and mare condition claiming pace.

Stonebridge Alibi (Brett Miller) and Sectionline Flame (Tyler Smith) were noses apart at the start, a foreshadowing of events to come.

Sectionline Flame eventually cleared to the top and passed the quarter in :27.3.

Rose Run Anabelle (Sam Widger) made a quick brush to the front and led the field of eight past the half in :57.1 and three quarters in 1:25.3.

The top three had some separation from the others and came down the lane as a group – Sectionline Flame in the passing lane, Stonebridge Alibi on the outside and Rose Run Anabelle in the middle.

The photo couldn’t separate Stonebridge Alibi and Sectionline Flame for win.

Rose Run Anabelle was officially a neck back in third.

The final time of 1:54.4 produced new lifetime marks for both of the winners.

Sectionline Flame is co-owned by trainer Herman Hagerman and Charles Reeve.

Roy Murphy, Jr. trains and owns Stonebridge Alibi.

Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway’s Thursday card (Nov. 20) will go postward at 4:00 P.M. Free past performance pages are available at www.hollywooddaytonraceway.com.

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

By Jay Wolf for Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway