Scioto Downs Racino tried a new claiming series for 2013 with the additional money from VLTs - the Columbus Claiming Series - which gave horses that race in $5,000 claimers the opportunity to race for a purse three times what they usually go for. After two legs, Le Sirenuse got up to win the big final, with a $15,000 purse, on Saturday.
Owned by Bruce and Patricia Soulsby and Scott Wager, Le Sirenuse earned a third and a second in the preliminary legs to go off as the second betting choice; the coupled entry of Family Spirit N and Danger Sign N was the race favourite. Le- Sirenuse, a four-year-old Sportsmaster gelding led at every point of call for driver Tony Hall and trainer Ron Steck before crossing the wire first in 1:54.
The winner was obvious, taking the race by a two and a half length margin. But the next seven horses all finished within three lengths of each other.
The first leg of the Columbus Claiming Series was held three Thursdays ago and the top earning 40 horses that entered got to race in four divisions. The top five finishers in each race were then eligible to race in the second leg the next Thursday, with a little bump in the purse to $5,500. The top five finishers in each of those two divisions were then eligible for the $15,000 final held on Saturday.
Based on the way they finished the last two weeks, of which they could not be claimed out of the first two legs, four horses were claimed out of the final. Le Sirenuse was taken by Mike Lewis, while second-place finisher Panhellenic, third-place finisher Ramember and Premier Flash were also taken.
Racing continues next week at Scioto on Wednesday with the normal 6:30 p.m. first post. The card on Thursday, the 4th of July, will have a special 1:00 p.m. post. There is no racing on Friday and Saturday, Back to the Track night, will have the normal 6:30 p.m. post time as well, but festivities will start at 5:00 p.m.
(Scioto Downs)