Trainer will send out seven on Saturday’s $1.1 million card that features the Dayton Trotting Classic, Dayton Pacing Derby, Dayton Distaff Derby and a full slate of Buckeye Stallion Series Championships.

by Jay Wolf

For trainer/owner Chris Beaver, this year will be forgetful and the month of September has been an emotional rollercoaster. You can’t blame him if he is excited to turn the calendar to October, looking rebound in the $1.1 million card on Saturday night (Oct. 3) at Hollywood Dayton Raceway.

The veteran conditioner is admittedly having a “bad” year. His stable’s seasonal earnings are just short of $1.7 million and sporting a .293 UTRS. While those numbers are well behind his personal best, he still ranks in the Top 20 nationally in wins and earnings.

“It’s been a bad year for me,” said Beaver. “I had some really nice horses break down and some others that didn’t race as well as I thought they should. You always have that with a stable this size.”

The month of September started well for Beaver. He conditioned the $300,000 Ohio Sire Stake 2-year-old colt trot champion, Perron, and earned five checks with his seven starters.

A week later, the Beaver Stable was rocked with the untimely death of assistant trainer, Darryl Maccannell.

Maccannell, 54, died on Sept. 14 after suffering a heart attack at Eldorado Scioto Downs.

“(His death) put a black cloud over the entire week at Delaware. Everyone in the barn was affected,” said Beaver.

Normally, Jug Week would be a celebration for Beaver’s crew, as their farm is just minutes from the Delaware County Fairgrounds. But thanks to some untimely breaks and a disqualification, Beaver visited the Delaware winner’s circle just twice in 2020.

Beaver will send seven horses postward tomorrow night (Oct. 3) at Dayton Raceway.

Charming Nancy (Aaron Merriman – Post #3) is the 5-2 morning line choice in the $60,000 Buckeye Stallion Series (BSS) Final for 2-year-old trotting fillies.

The Uncle Peter filly won the first four BSS legs and crossed the wire a head clear of Boujee Girl in the final leg at Delaware. Unfortunately, the trotter was on the pace at the finish line and was placed third.

“She’s been a little bit rough all summer. Aaron’s held her together a lot,” said Beaver. “I think she maybe got pushed a little too far that last leg. She wants to race well, she’s just a little rough going.”

In the BSS freshman colt trot, Beaver will send out Peter’s Royalty (Josh Sutton – Post #7) at 7-2.

He finished fifth in his last start, the BSS leg at Delaware.

“I think he got a bad trip in his last start. He’s been real consistent and he’s raced real well.”

Peter’s Royalty has three Buckeye Stallion Series wins and made $45,750 for his owners, Mary McLoughlin and Debra Garland.

In the sophomore BSS trots, the Beaver stable will be represented by the filly Electric Ridge (Aaron Merriman – Post #1 – 8-1) and the homebred gelding Gabby’s Wild Child (Josh Sutton – Post #4 – 10-1).

“We raced Electric Ridge in a lot of fairs. She was really trying hard early in the summer. I decided to take the route to get a lot of races for her and make the ($40,000) Fair Final (on Oct. 20 at MGM Northfield Park). She won a leg of the Buckeye Stallion Series, but most of her money was won at the fairs.”

Beaver will send out a pair of trotters in the $25,000 Open – Custom Cantab (David Miller – Post #2 – 7-2) and Weslynn Dancer (Brett Miller) – Post #10 – 10-1).

“(Custom Cantab) actually raced pretty well in the Trotting Classic over at Hoosier (a 6thplace finish). We thought she held her own over there. She got pushed back by the horse in front of her or she would have got a check.”

Custom Cantab, a 5-year-old Mr Cantab mare, has earned more than $1 million for Beaver, Donald Robinson and R.B.H. Ventures.

“She hasn’t come back as good as she was last year. She got a late start this year due to an injury coming out of the Breeders Crown last year. She still has four races just for trotting mares. We are hoping she gets it together.”

In the $175,000 Dayton Trotting Classic, Pure Chance (Scott Zeron – Post #5 – 10-1) will be taking on the trotting heavyweights – Atlanta, Manchego and Majestic Player A.

Pure Chance is coming off a second place finish in the $87,500 Ms Versatility Final on Jug Day, and was timed in 1:52.3.

“She’ll take the shortest route possible and will try to get a check. She is coming off a tremendous race at Delaware. It was the best she raced and came home real strong. I figured we should take a shot. With these open trotters, it they go at each other, you never know what is going to happen.”

The rich Dayton Raceway card also includes the $175,500 Dayton Pacing Derby and the $175,000 Dayton Distaff Derby, featuring Shartin N, Kissin In The Sand and Jugette champions Warrawee Ubeaut and Caviart Ally.

First post is 6:15 PM.

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