Ontario-owned J J Hall and driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr. set a new track record for aged gelding trotters of 1:54 on Saturday night at Scioto Downs.
The previous record of 1:54.1 was co-held by Dunkster, Hesza Laser and J J Hall.
J J Hall is a six-year-old gelded son of Jailhouse Jesse and he's no stranger to the spotlight. He's trained by Ohio native Scott Mogan for owner Doug Millard of Woodstock, Ont. J J Hall has earned over $240,000 and has racked up 21 victories in the 65 times he has hit the track.
J J Hall started from post seven in the field of nine after the scratch of Southwind Pepino in a condition trot race going for a purse of $18,000. He's usually driven by Kayne Kauffman, but Kauffman had one of his own trainees in the field, so Mogan called upon Wrenn Jr. for the assignment.
Wrenn wasted no time as the pair left hard for early position and they found it right on the front end. They trotted the first quarter in :27.4 and grabbed a breather to the half in :57. Wrenn and J J Hall were well in hand and trotted past three-quarters in 1:25.1. The pair had it wrapped up from there. Touchmymuscles and Randy Tharps grabbed the place spot and Countmymuscles was third for trainer/driver Kauffman.
The very next race on the 14-race card was the Filly & Mare Open Pace. TTs Little Lass and Jeremy Smith were the mild upset winners in a career-best effort of 1:52. The seven-year-old Towners Big Guy mare is trained by co-owner and breeder Terry Tackett.
Shes Shocking, from post four, was the post time favourite in the short field of six. She was driven by Kauffman and they pushed the gate away, determined to set the pace. After clocking fractions of :26.4, :54.4 and 1:23.1, it was TTs Little Lass who was sitting in perfect striking position behind Shes Shocking to benefit from the quick pace. Shes Shocking finished second and Eve Marie Seelster completed the trifecta.
Carols Comet and Aaron Merriman prevailed in the $20,000 Open Pace in 1:50.4. The five-year-old gelded son of Yankee Cruiser is trained by Ron Potter for his connections.
Carols Comet started from post eight in the field of nine, but Merriman still said let's go when the wings folded. They landed right in the two-hole behind the 6-5 favourite, Rockin Wizard, driven by Wrenn Jr. Rockin Wizard set the hot fractions of :26.2, :55.3 and 1:23.1, but couldn't fend off the closing Carols Comet when he ducked in to the super stretch. Rockin Wizard and Special Forces, for driver Greg Grismore, couldn't be split, as it was a dead-heat for place.
(With files from Scioto Downs)