Masters Sweetie had to work hard for her sixth straight victory, but she rallied in the stretch to win the $8,000 final of the Killbuck Mary Trotting Series at Scioto Downs on Thursday, June 25.
Jeff Nisonger drove the four-year-old mare to victory for owner-trainer Ed Birmele of London, Ohio. Her winning margin was a neck.
She overtook pacesetting Striking Lauren in the final strides to post a 1:58.2 win, lowering her lifetime mark by two full seconds. Curly Top finished third. Masters Sweetie has now won eight of her 10 starts this season.
Despite her winning streak, Masters Sweetie went off as the second choice among the bettors behind the 4-5 Striking Lauren, who had won last week in 1:58.3.
The heavy favourite, Any Places Dream, took the final of the Floating Dream Series for pacing mares with an easy-does-it seven and a half-length win in 1:54.3 with Dan Noble in the bike for owner-trainer Johnson Hill, Jr.
Civil Shepherd showed the way to the first quarter in :27.2, then Noble moved his four-year-old mare to the front and never looked back. Civil Shepherd held on for second over Heres Matty.
Any Places Dream has now won six of her eight starts this season after going winless in four starts last year.
(Scioto)