The female stars of the future in the Buckeye State did battle in four splits of Ohio Sires Stakes for freshmen at Scioto Downs on a cool and breezy Friday night.

Royal Fricassee won her second Ohio Sires Stakes in two career starts for driver Robin Miller as she darted to the lead from post eight and never looked back, winning in 2:02.1 over Diplomats Mistress and Contessa Leigh. Ray Crawford trains the daughter of Royal Strength, and owns her in partnership with June Crawford, Suanne Kochilla, and Richard Hann.

The other trotting split went to Look At Count, trained and driven by Ammon Hershberger for breeders and owners John Red and Betty Shaw of Mount Vernon. The daughter of Full Count left fast from her outside post seven, yielded the lead to Ladys Starlet, and then rallied in the stretch to win in 2:04.4. Her margin was a head over Ladys Starlet with Pinehall Lady third.

The evening opened with Chris Page, the track’s leading driver, scoring with Cating Around, a Feelin Friskie filly, trained by Brian Brown. The 3-5 favourite paced past Igottafeelinfran in the stretch to stop the timer in 1:56.4 as Crosswind Colleen rallied for third. The winning filly is owned by the trainer’s wife, Jennifer, in partnership with Gary Cook and Timothy Lane.

Veteran Ohio horseman Tye Loy had the honour of being the winning owner, trainer and driver of Pink Camo, winner of the second Ohio Sires Stakes for freshman pacing lasses. She moved with authority to the lead with a quarter-mile remaining in the race and drew off to win by three and a half lengths in 1:56.3. Norma Jean was second and Always D Lady was third.

The best older female pacers put on quite a show in the $15,000 Fillies & Mares Open Pace as the first four finishers hit the wire within three-quarters of a length. Getting the best of the photo was Idol and driver Kyle Ater in 1:55.4. C R Hope nosed out Kenna Lyn for second place. Jim Pollock Jr. trains the winner for Stephen Richard of Massachusetts.

(Scioto Downs)