22-1 longshot sets track record in Dayton Trotting Derby

22-1 longshot Hillexotic (Muscle Hill) played giant killer in the $250,000 Dayton Trotting Derby and set a new track record in Grand Circuit harness racing action at Dayton Raceway on Saturday night (Sept. 30th.)

Given a perfect steer by driver Yannick Gingras, the six-year-old gelding sat inside until the stretch, watching his stablemate It’s Academic (Dave Miller) and Alrajah One IT (Dexter Dunn) slug it out through swift fractions. Hillexotic, once shown racetrack in the lane, flew late to nail both of those favorites on the line for the 1:51.1 track record.

The race began with several trotters blasting off the gate for position. When the dust settled, Kildare King (Aaron Merriman) was the early leader with Hillexotic racing second and It’s Academic sitting third. Dunn used Alrajah One IT to get position after leaving from the widest post, and he landed in fourth as the quarter was reached in 27.1.

Miller, not content to sit third, moved It’s Academic to the front passing the wire for the first time. He led through a rock-solid half of 54.3 and faced no challengers passing the five-eighths pole. At that point, Alrajah One IT was sent first up and he would engage the leader and they traded punches through the three-quarters in 1:22.3, seemingly about to wage war to the wire with one of the two prevailing.

Hillexotic was still inside racing fourth as the field turned for home, but he would soon find room and Gingras zagged him to the farthest outside path four-wide. It’s Academic, Alrajah One IT and Hillexotic would come to the wire together in a blanket finish. Hillexotic had the freshest legs late and he would prevail by a head for the upset.

Alrajah One IT would shade It’s Academic for second and Kildare King stayed for fourth.

HILLEXOTIC REPLAY

Hillexotic was winning for the eighth time in 18 starts this year for trainer Ron Burke and partner Weaver-Bruscemi. The $125,000 winner’s share of the purse raised his lifetime earnings to more than $666,000. He paid $46.50 on a $2 win ticket.

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

by Garnet Barnsdale, for Harnesslink