Johansson takes dash title

Concluding with Sunday night's card was the early fall meet at The Red Mile. This year the leading owner, trainer and driver by number of wins were awarded a free breeding to a popular stallion along with a trophy commemorating their accomplishment.

Tom Ryan of Fayetteville, Ohio, took the owner award with 12 wins and given a choice of breeding to either Real Desire or Tom Ridge. Ryan trains his own stock, mostly claimers and always enjoys success during the meet in Lexington. This year his UTRS was near the .400 mark.

Tom Smith was the again leading trainer for the early meet; winning 31 races over the same number of race dates and gets to choose between Four Starzzz Shark and Striking Sahbra for his efforts. Smith has been the top conditioner for the past several seasons at The Red Mile overnight meet. He sent out an average of five starters per night and seldom went away empty handed.

The leading driver in a photo was Marcus Johansson, picking up his first Red Mile title with 24 winners on the meet. Johansson comes to The Red Mile from New Jersey to drive primarily for the Jimmy Takter barn (Takter is his father-in-law) and picked up a lot of work while here. He finished with just one winner more than Jeff Nisonger with Mike Lachance and Tony Rose also in the hunt until the very end. Johansson will choose his breeding from pacer Artiscape or trotter Like A Prayer. (Red Mile)

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