Ants Marching ($3.60) rolled into the Dayton Raceway record books on Thursday, Nov. 16 with a 1:49 mile, the fastest ever from a three-year-old pacing gelding in the track’s history.
Ants Marching and driver Jeremy Smith enjoyed a pocket ride behind Cody Hanover’s hot fractions of :27, :55.2 and 1:22.1 before pouncing in the stretch to win by a head for trainer Todd Luther and owner Greg Luther Racing.
The previous divisional record of 1:50.1 was held jointly by Snowmoon and Vel Mr Nice Guy.
Carbine ($2.60) prevailed as the heavy favourite in the $20,000 conditioned pacing feature at Dayton, giving driver Dan Noble one of his four wins on the card.
Noble sent Carbine forward from post six to control fractions of :26.2, :54.3 and 1:22.1, and the five-year-old son of Somebeachsomewhere entire won by a neck over Walknafter Midnite and Rockin Speed in 1:50.2.
Tony Alagna trains Carbine, who notched his eighth win of the season and 20th of his career, for Odds On Racing.
Christi Noble scored a training hat trick, winning with Stonerleigh, Natives Filou and Artatac A — all driven by Dan Noble. Jeremy Smith scored a driving hat trick and Sam Widger drove a pair of winners.
(With files from Dayton Raceway)