Little Brown Jug eligible Dancin Yankee avoided a first-turn breaker, then overpowered his rivals to win the third division of the Ohio Sires Stakes for sophomore pacers at Scioto Downs on Monday in 1:52.1, fastest mile of the meet

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“I was lucky when I avoided the confusion in the first turn when that horse [Perfekjenlmnkalfas, driven by Dan Noble] broke,” said driver Kyle Ater after the race.

The son of Yankee Cruiser started from post seven and Ater was licking his chops as he saw a front-end duel between Magical New Day and Integrity develop. Ater played a waiting game until the third quarter, then turned his pacer loose in pursuit of the leaders.

Integrity, who had been parked all the way from post eight, tired after failing to take the lead from Magical New Day. When Integrity began to fade, Dancin Yankee swept around him and past pacesetting Magical New Day. Then it was simply a matter of the margin as the pacer coasted to the wire to win by 4-1/4 lengths. IDK rallied to finish second while Magical New Day held third.

It was a new lifetime mark for Dancin Yankee, who is trained by Dan Ater.

The other division of sophomore pacers in OSS action was taken by Hare Craft and driver Dan Noble with a 1:52.3 win by 8-1/2 lengths. Noble sent him after the leaders when the first quarter was passed in :26.4. He moved easily to the front and was never challenged. The son of Yankee Cruiser is trained by Jim Arledge, Jr. for Dustin Arledge and Frank Dettore Horse Racing. It was his third win in five starts this season.

The star of the three OSS trotting splits was Future Night Train, a gelding making his third start of the season and scoring his first win. Dan Noble took no chances as he went to the front and never relinquished the lead, winning by a widening eight lengths in 1:56.3. He’s trained by Richard Kirby for owner Michael Kirby of Richwood, Ohio. Count The Cost was second and Northmedo Wine Guy got the third-place check.

Noble also won with Permanent Joy, a son of Trot For Joy, trained by Sergio Corona for the Hero Stables. He trotted past El Cortez in the stretch to win by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:57.1. Count On Ben finished third.

Trainer-driver and co-owner Jack Dailey enjoyed an OSS victory behind Shining Ember, a son of Master Lavec. The favourite move to the front before the half-mile marker and had enough trot to fend off Rose Run Mac and JJ Hall. His time was 1:57.3.

Leading driver Dan Noble picked up six winning drives on the 12-race program.

(Scioto Downs)