Test Of Faith passes test of toughness in $250,000 Dayton Distaff Derby

Last year’s Harness Horse Of The Year, Test Of Faith (Art Major) put on a show for harness racing fans as she was able to grind it out first-over from after the opening quarter and still have some left in the tank to capture the $250,000 Dayton Distaff Derby for driver David Miller at Hollywood Dayton Raceway on Saturday (Oct. 1).

Gia’s Surreal (Aaron Merriman) left quickly from the far outside in post eight to take early command over Amazing Dream N (Yannick Gingras), but once on top at the quarter in :27.2, Gingras came right back to take the lead again. She led the field to the half mile in :56.2 as the 1/9 overwhelming favorite, Test Of Faith started up first over.

Content to rough it out on the outside, Test Of Faith pushed Amazing Dream N to the three-quarters in 1:24.1 as they went around the final turn and headed down the stretch. It was then that Amazing Dream N could not hold off Test Of Faith, who came on to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:51.2.

Gia’s Surreal held for third place.

TEST OF FAITH REPLAY

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It was the third straight win, sixth win in her last eight starts and the 31st career win for Test Of Faith. She now sports nine wins this year for trainer Brett Pelling. The four-year-old mare is owned by Mel Segal, Kentuckiana Racing Stable and Eddie Gran. She was bred by Frederick Hertrich and paid just $2.10.

To read about all the action and see all the replays from the $3.4 million card at Dayton, click here.

For complete race results, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink