With an opening quarter of :26.4, it looked like Scioto Downs' Fillies & Mares Open would be a fast mile, but no one figured Betterluvnexttime would set a new track record.
Ronnie Wrenn Jr. guided the five-year-old American Ideal mare to a mile in 1:51.2 on Friday, which also was her new lifetime best, and set the new track record for aged pacing mares.
Al Tomlinson trains Betterluvnexttime for Daniel Mitchell of Novi, Michigan. The mare has gone off as the race favourite her last four starts at Hoosier Park, winning three of those times and finishing second the other.
Betterluvnexttime left from post four, went straight to the front and never looked back, winning by two and a quarter lengths.
“She’s the nicest horse I have ever drove,” said Wrenn. “She is two fingers warming up and real nice to handle. She made me look good -- I’m glad Al gave me the opportunity to drive her.”
Wrenn ended up with three wins on the evening; Tony Hall finished the night with two wins. The driver colony is more evenly matched this year with 10 different drivers winning over 13 races.
(Scioto Downs)