Driver Trent Tharps took advantage of having post position one with Chip Of Art in the Saturday night featured Open Pace at Scioto, and they led all the way to win
in 1:53.
The four-year-old gelded son of Arts Chip was sent off at odds of 6-1 and returned a $14.80 win payoff for a $2 bet. His winning margin was one and a quarter lengths.
Chip Of Art was pressured in the opening quarter by Docs Yankee, the even-money favourite, but when Docs Yankee couldn’t get to the front, driver Chris Page put him in behind the leader and second-place Lima Ritch. After a blistering opening quarter in :26.2, Tharps eased the pace to :56 seconds at the half-mile marker. The tempo picked up during a third quarter in :28 seconds and thereafter no one could catch the leader. Docs Yankee failed to stay with him in the stretch and the 16-1 shot Big Bad TJ got up for second money while Docs Yankee held for third.
Chip Of Art is owned by David Stanley and Douglas Ross, both of Ohio. The win was his fourth in nine starts this season and the time was a new lifetime mark. He is trained by veteran Charles Ross.
In the “Over The Hill Gang” pace for horses at least seven years old, the winner was Launch Angle, who led most of the mile, yielded briefly to Beans And Weenies, then regained the lead to win by a head in 1:55.3. He was driven to victory by J.D. Wengerd, who had a driving triple at Scioto on Saturday. Favoured Good Connections finished last in the field of nine starters.
Once again, a large crowd came to enjoy the gaming opportunities at the Scioto racino, which opened with great fanfare and acclaim on Friday.
(Scioto Downs)