For the last two weeks, Scioto Downs has held qualifiers on Wednesdays and the racing conditions could not have varied more. When qualifiers move to their normal Tuesday slot starting next week, and with them being held in the evening on May 7, the track conditions could vary once more.
On each of the qualifying days the last two weeks, 2012 Art Rooney and Windy City Pace champion Pet Rock charted the fastest mile of the day, proving he can take on the sloppy track just as well as a fast one. On April 24, Dan Noble guided the four-year-old son of Rocknroll Hanover to an eight and one-quarter length win in 1:56.1 with a :27.4 last quarter. The track was listed sloppy and with a one second allowance for the cool 51 degree morning.
This morning, on a fast track in 70 degrees, Pet Rock also led at every call to a one and a quarter length victory, stopping the clock in 1:53 with a :27.3 last quarter. The Virgil Morgan Jr. trainee has earned over $1 million for owner Frank Bellino and took his 1:50 record as a three-year-old in a Preferred event at Woodbine Racetrack.
Next week Scioto returns to the regularly scheduled Tuesday qualifying schedule. However, the May 7 qualifiers will be held in the evening, starting at 6:30 p.m., to allow for a run through before opening night the next evening. The following week (May 14), qualifiers will begin at the normal 10:30 a.m. time slot. Horsemen are reminded to call the new race office phone numbers at 614-295-4668 and 614-295-4669.
Racing will be held every Wednesday through Saturday with a post time of 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 8 through Saturday, September 14. Special 1 p.m. cards will be held on May 27 (Memorial Day), July 4, August 3 (State Fair races) and September 2 (Labor Day). The box will close on Friday for Wednesday race nights, Monday for Thursday, Tuesday for Friday and Wednesday for Saturday. For the two special Monday cards (Memorial Day and Labor Day), the box will close on Thursday.
(With files from Scioto Downs)