Southwind Pepino dominated his six foes in the featured Friday night trot at Scioto Downs on the second night of the track’s 2012 season

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Trainer-driver Hugh “Sandy” Beatty kept his trotter back in fifth place while Hardwood Chips blazed the opening panel in :28.1 and the even-money favorite Lord Of Andover went offstride.

Driver Ryan Holton then slowed the tempo of the trotting as Hardwood Chips covered the second panel in :30.2.

Beatty and Southwind Pepino launched their attack in the third quarter and drew a bead on the pacesetter. Once in the stretch, Southwind Pepino was clearly in control and tripped the timer in 1:57.1.

Drift Away rallied from far back for trainer-driver Daren Harvey to claim second, 5-1/2 lengths behind the winner, while Hardwood Chips finished six lengths back in third. Lima Lucky was fourth and Lookslikefire was fifth. Reigning Ohio Horse of the Year J J Hall broke stride during the mile and finished sixth while Lord Of Andover never recovered from his error and wound up well back in seventh.

Southwind Pepino paid a handsome $13.20 to win.

The winner is owned by Beatty in partnership with Robert D. Sharrits of Ohio. The win was the second in three seasonal starts for the four-year-old son of Chocolatier. The time matched his record taken last year at Indiana Downs.

Dan Noble, the leading race-winning driver in North America last year, made his seasonal debut at Scioto and won four races.

(Scioto Downs)