Sunrise Nibbles Perfect In Ohio Stakes
The two-year-old colts and fillies were featured in the Ohio State Fair Stakes on Friday night at Scioto Downs.
The flawless filly, Sunrise Nibbles remained perfect after taking her division in a new lifetime-best 1:59.4.
The Iron Duke filly is trained by Chris Beaver, who partially owns with the Toronto-based Synerco Ventures Inc. and partners Steven Zeehandelar and Dave Lang.
Sunrise Nibbles started from post one in the field of seven and leading Scioto Downs driver Chris Page was in her sulky. The pair fired out for command and never looked back. She won by a margin of one and three-quarter lengths. Sammy Star was second best and Student Of Life was a late-charging third.
The two-year-old colt trotters Neelys Messenger and Kick A Lot dominated in their respective divisions.
Kick A Lot is a gelded son of Deep Chip out of Macs dream. Regular driver Kurt Sugg had the lines for trainer Jeff Cox and breeder and owner Pius Soehnlen. The pair wired the field in a new career-best of 1:59.2, winning by six and a half lengths. Chips Starr and Kayne Kauffman were second and Really Deep Chip for Greg Grismore was third.
Neelys Messenger and trainer/driver Marty Wollam cruised to a seven and three-quarter victory in 1:58.3. He's a son of Neely Dunn out of Fun Message owned by Dale and Julie Sweet. Super Sheff Frosty grabbed the place money and Ohio Chipster completed the trifecta.
The two-year-old pacing filly Bell Flower continued her winning ways, taking her division of Ohio State Fair Stakes in 1:55.2.
She's a daughter of Fly Fly Buckeye out of Our Lady Countess. She recently has moved into the Jim Arledge Jr. Stable for new owners Bruce and Patricia Soulsby.
The dominating filly started from post six in the field of eight for Page. They pushed the gate away and Page was determined to set the fractions with the 1-2 favourite. There was never an anxious moment. The filly cruised to a one and a half length victory over a game Friskie Lil Devil and Ronnie Wrenn Jr. while Zoeys Lemon Tart and Aaron Merriman were third.
Gray Camo set a new lifetime best of 1:54.4 in his division of State Fair Stakes.
The perfect son of Pine Valley out of CGs Gem is trained by Ron Burke and was driven by Page.
Page worked out a perfect pocket trip and was able to get up in time by a mere neck over Nobles Finesse and Ollie Pop rallied for the show spot.
The three-year-old take center stage on Saturday (August 2), with first race post time set for 6:30 p.m.
(With files from Scioto Downs)