Ten Ohio Driving Legends put on a great show in the featured trotting event at Scioto Downs on Saturday night as part of the Back to the Track celebration. They were augmented by some impressive young Ohio Sires Stakes stars
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The Ohio Driving Legends featured many of the best drivers from the Buckeye State in recent years and the winner was 70-year-old Don McKirgan, driving Four Starz Motor, an easy winner in 2:01.
The veteran drivers handled their trotters with skill and kept them all on onstride through the mile. McKirgan kept the 6-5 favourite Four Starz Motor on the outside the last three-quarters of a mile and the Credit Winner mare simply trotted away from her rivals with ease in the stretch.
The winner is owned by David Eades, mayor of nearby London, Ohio, and she is trained by his brother John.
Finishing second was Pro Vision, driven by Scott Mogan, while Starry Night Star and Ray Paver finished third.
The other drivers competing in the Ohio Driving Legends race were Sandy Beatty, Billy Walters, Tom Brinkerhoff, David Myers, Chip Noble, Dan Ater, and Marty Wollam.
Gun Show made it two Ohio Sires Stakes in a row when he dominated seven rivals to win the $34,300 stake for freshman pacing males. Driver Dan Noble had him sitting third for most of the mile while Feelin Perfect set the fractions. Noble pulled the trigger on Gun Show going into the final quarter and the Feelin Friskie colt sailed to an easy 1:56.4 win over Feelin Perfect and American Friskie.
Jim Arledge, Jr. trains the winner for Milton Leeman and Dustin Arledge.
Count Me In, trained and driven by Marty Wollam, was an impressive 2:00.4 winner in the faster of two divisions of Ohio Sires Stakes for freshman trotting male. Wollam cleverly sat patiently behind Rose Run Nash and Jailbird Jesse as those two dueled through the race. Coming off the last turn, Wollam tipped the son of Full Count three-wide and he cruised to victory.
“I think there was still some gas left in the tank,” said Wollam after the race.
The winner is owned by Acadia Farms and Patricia Wollam.
Rose Run Nash held on for second over Jailbird Jesse.
The other OSS for young trotters went to Locked Up Gust, a son of Jailhouse Jesse trained by Dennis Putnam and owned by Lucky Eleven. He started from Post 8 and made a bold move during the second quarter when the pace was slowing to work his way into contention. He shot from fourth to first in the stretch to win in 2:02.2 by one and a quarter lengths.
The 2-5 favourite Rock N Jessie made a break at the start, but staged a remarkable rally to finish second while Whotooksam was third.
(Scioto Downs)