Driver J. D. Wengerd rocketed Picassos Dream away from the gate fastest and led all the way to win a five-eighths of a mile sprint

at Scioto Downs on a rainy Sunday afternoon.

The 13-race card was the first in Scioto’s Super Summer Sundays, but the weather didn’t cooperate.

Eight horses entered the dash, but a scratch brought the field down to seven pacers. Forever To The Top and driver Dan Noble were made the 3-5 favourite by virtue of having post one, a significant edge in a sprint. But Picassos Dream blasted away from the gate with such speed that the others were hunting for holes behind the leader.

Picassos Dream held a steady margin over Forever To The Top down the backstretch and into the stretch, tripping the timer at :57.1 for the first half-mile. The 11-1 shot Dalcroft Big Guy and Kayne Kauffman rallied on the outside, but was no match for the winner. Picassos Dream won by a length over Dalcroft Big Guy as Forever To The Top held third.

It was the fifth win in 18 starts for the seven-year-old gelded son of The Panderosa, who is also trained by Wengerd, who owns him in partnership with Checkered Racing Stable of Illinois. He was a winner two months ago at Northfield Park in 1:54.3 for Wengerd.

Driver Dan Noble bagged seven winners on the program, lifting him to a yearly total of 248, tied for fourth place in North America.

(Scioto Downs)