It may have been a compact field of six, but the $37,500 Open Pace at Eldorado Scioto Downs did not disappoint on Saturday, July 27. Seafire and Beau Brown came flying down the stretch on the far outside to win in a career-best 1:48.4.

“[Track announcer] Barry [Vicroy] wears his emotions on his sleeve during these great races,” said Jason Roth, Scioto’s Director of Racing. “You can hear the excitement, and sometimes disbelief, when the horses do what they do. Everyone listening to his calls can tell it’s not just a job for him, he absolutely enjoys the racing.”

It was a calvary charge at the start on Saturday with half the field vying for position, going three-wide until midway through the first turn. Stars Align A (Dan Noble) protected the rail, with favourite Charlie May (Eric Goodell) parked from the four-hole and Chase H Hanover (Luke Hanners) on the far outside from post five. Chase H Hanover made the front by the :25.2 opening quarter and got down to the pylons as the field straightened out in the stretch for the first time.

Santana Hanover (Josh Sutton) pulled from sixth and flushed out Stars Align A as the field went to the :54.1 half. Heading down the backside, the field was three in and three out.

By the time Chase H Hanover tripped the beam at the three-quarters in 1:21, Santana Hanover was three-wide with Seafire tipping four-wide from the back of the pack. The hard-charging Seafire came home in :27 to win by a length and three-quarters at odds of 5-1. In a four-horse blanket finish, Charlie May came out on top to finish second and Santana Hanover was third.

Seafire, a four-year-old stallion by Downbytheseaside out of the Towners Big Guy mare Wildfire Princess, is trained by Brian Brown and owned by Country Club Acres, Joelyn Ridder, Mark Kantrowitz and Scott Davis. Enos Weaver bred the nine-time winner, who did not race at two. He now has $187,511 earned in 17 lifetime starts.

The close finish in Saturday’s Open comes on the heels of a great finish in the Fillies and Mares Open on Friday night.

Fans unable to attend the track can experience Vicroy’s great calls, and the amazing races, via replays for free on the Eldorado Scioto Downs website.

Ohio State Fair racing comes to Scioto this next week, with the two-year-old fillies taking center stage on Thursday, two-year-old colts and the three-year-old filly trot racing on Friday while Saturday’s races include the three-year-old pacers and the three-year-old colt trotters. Scioto is partnering with the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association to provide a free horseshoe decorating center on Friday and Saturday from 5:30-8 p.m. next to the program stand. On Saturday, there will be a bounce house, petting zoo and food trucks. Post time is 5:45 p.m. each day.

(With files from Scioto Downs)