He’s now won 106 races and over $7.6 million in his career.
“It’s really cool to drive a horse that some people call the G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time),” driver Chris Page said in the winner’s circle. “He was all out tonight to win from the 9-hole, but he gives you everything he’s got every time. There may never be another one like him.”
Dayton race secretary Gregg Keidel had said the same thing in the past about Foiled Again: “He’s an absolute wonder horse. He’s a once-in-a-generation type horse.”
And he showed some of that Saturday.
On a cold night from a difficult starting position and against a field of younger, conditioned pacers – who had 201 wins among them and had banked a combined $2 million – Foiled Again would not be denied.
By the quarter pole Page had angled him in past one horse after another and had the lead, which he then never relinquished.
Communicator driven by Jason Brewer finished second and Gareth Nourrir with Jeremy Smith in the sulky was third.
Over the years, Foiled Again raced 21 times in Ohio and won often here – including three Battle of Lake Erie titles at Northfield Park. He had raced twice before at Dayton Raceway, finishing second by a nose in the Dayton Pacing Derby in 2014 and fifth in the Derby in 2015.
Long an ambassador of the sport, he especially engaged the Dayton crowd Saturday night.
Before the first race, he did a meet and greet with fans.
An hour before his race, he took local fifth grade teacher Alex Johnson – the winner of the night’s special drawing – on a ride around the track in a two-seat jog cart.
“My students will be very excited Monday when I show them pictures and tell them what I got to do over the weekend,” Johnson told Keidel.
As the track matchmaker, Keidel said: “I had no trouble filling the Foiled Again Farewell Tour race. … It seemed like all (the trainers) who got in were thrilled to get an opportunity to race against such a legendary horse before he retires.”
After the race, Foiled Again was given a satin blanket and, more to his liking, a bouquet of carrots.
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