A pair of Open Trots highlighted the Friday, May 10 evening card at Eldorado Scioto Downs and for the second night in a row, there was significant growth in handle over 2023 with a 48 per cent increase over last year’s first Friday card.
Forceful Power was the best of seven and took the $35,616 fillies and mares division in 1:54. The Hugh “Sandy” Beatty-trained and driven six-year-old by Triumphant Caviar came from sitting last during the entire mile with a :28.1 last quarter to win by a quarter length. Opening fractions of :27, :55.4 and 1:24.3 were set by Martysmagicmoment (Kayne Kauffman) and in the end, just two lengths separated the entire field. Forceful Power now has 12 wins in 32 lifetime starts and $197,309 earned for owner Stephen Sexton.
Kildare King (Aaron Merriman) took the $36,986 Open Trot for trainer Chris Beaver and owner/breeder Robert Goodman in 1:53.4. The six-year-old gelded son of Trixton sat mid-pack while fractions of L27.3, :56.4 and 1:25.4 were set up front. Kildare King closed in L27.2 to win by a quarter length over barnmate Caviar Gold (Chris Page). This was the 20th lifetime win for Kildare King and pushed his earnings over the $600,000 mark.
There was also two divisions of the $20,548 Falcon Almahurst Series, for fillies eligible to the Buckeye Stallion Series but did not start in the first leg of the Ohio Sire Stakes. Im A Beach Lady (sired by Downbytheseaside) took the first division for Luke Hanners and trainer Herman Hagerman in 1:53.3. The second division went to Fearless Ginger (sired by Fear The Dragon) in 1:53.2 for owner/trainer Tim Lane and driver Tyler Smith.
Both Chris Page and Tony Hall drove three winners on the card, while Virgil Morgan Jr. had a training triple for owner Odds On Racing.
The last night of Scioto’s opening weekend takes place on Saturday with another 16-race card. There will be a $15,000 guaranteed Pick-5 pool for the first race, with a carryover of $3,457, as well as a Super Hi-5 carryover of $1,729 for race four.
The 90-day 2024 Eldorado Scioto Downs race meet runs through Saturday, Sept. 14. Races are held Tuesday-Saturday, with special holiday cards on Memorial Day and Labour Day taking place instead of the Tuesday card that week. First post is at 5:45 p.m. each day except for Thursday, July 4, with a post of 3:15 p.m., and Friday, Sept. 13, which will have a 6:15 p.m. post, to help accommodate horsepeople attending the Ohio Selected Yearling Sale.
(Scioto Downs; Photo of Kildare King winning on May 10)