It was a dead-heat in the 11-horse Open at Scioto Downs Racino Friday. Previous track record holder, if only for three races at the time, Bakin On The Beach and perpetual groomsman Carols Comet battled it out down the stretch and the judges could not separate them.

The mile went in 1:51.3, and while it was not a new record in harness racing, it was a sight to see for the crowd that graced the apron at the track. Bakin On The Beach and Ronnie Wrenn Jr. tied the track record for four-year-old pacing geldings just two weeks ago when he won in 1:50.3, but just a couple races later, I Found My Beach broke that record by one-fifth of a second. The son of McArdle is trained by Ron Steck for owners Bruce Soulsby and Mark Harder.

This week Bakin On The Beach took the two-hole trip to come up on pacesetting Carols Comet and Tony Hall. The latter lead at every point of call, leaving from the eight-hole and hitting the opening quarter in :26.1.

“Actually on the front end last week, he [Bakin On The Beach] tried pulling up twice,” explained Wrenn. “But I really had to grab into him down the stretch to keep the horse next to me so he would pace on. He acted like he could pace a lot more, I just couldn’t allow him do it. I thought tonight with the two-hole trip he’d win; I mean he did, but we just had to share it. He’s a lot better on a helmet or tripping him out.”

The flashy four-year-old gelding Carols Comet has raced in either the Open or the Invite every start he’s had since the track opened, but it was the first time leading driver Hall got the call. Trained by Ron Potter, the son of Yankee Cruiser is owned by Martin Presser, Whiskey Tango Stable, Bill and Matthew Moore.

“He [Potter] just said he likes it up close, but he’s never been on the front ever in his life," said Hall. “So he didn’t know how he’d be if he ever got caught on the front. But it worked out good tonight.

“It was pretty close, I couldn’t call it. Sometimes I can tell, but in this case I had no clue.”

Wrenn “thought Tony held on, to be honest. But I was happy to hear the dead-heat.”

There will be no racing Saturday due to the Jamey Johnson concert that is set up on the track. Racing will resume next week with a 6:30 p.m. post time for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday; a 1:00 p.m. post for Saturday and a special Sunday card with first post at 5:00 p.m. Highlighting the week’s racing card will be the Ohio State Fair races on Thursday, Friday and Saturday for two and three-year-old Ohio bred horses.

(Scioto Downs)