Contessa Leigh and MJs Victory Wish, both winners in Ohio Sires Stakes trotting action in early May, will square off on Saturday night at Scioto Downs, as four divisions of state-bred races highlight the 14-race card.
There will be two divisions of trotting and pacing sophomore fillies in action.
Contessa Leigh was impressive in her seasonal debut at Lebanon, going gate-to-wire for driver Chip Noble to win by over 19 lengths in 1:59.4. Her only other outing in 2013 was a fourth-place finish in an overnight at the Meadows with trainer Marty Wollam in the sulky.
MJs Victory Wish also made her first start of 2013 a winning one in the Ohio Sires Stakes at Lebanon, but her victory was an upset as bettors sent her off at 16-1 odds. She followed up that victory by winning again at Scioto Downs in mid-May in 1:58.4.
Contessa Leigh will start from Post 3 in the field of seven in the evening's 10th race. She will have Chip Noble in the bike. MJs Victory Wish races for Chris Page from Post 5.
Contessa Leigh is listed at 3-1 on the morning line with MJs Victory Wish at 4-1.
TTs Megapixel rates as the favourite in the other Ohio Sires Stakes split for sophomore trotting fillies. She’s been first or second in all three of her 2013 starts and has earnings of $16,000 to show for her efforts. She is coming off a 1:59.2 score for driver Chip Noble and trainer Dee Hotton over MJs Victory Wish.
TTs Megapixel faces nine rivals and has Post 2 for Noble in the third race.
The pacing fillies Pink Camo and Forever La Nigh, both winners of OSS divisions at Lebanon, will see action at Scioto on Saturday.
Pink Camo is the heavy 4-5 early favourite for the second race of the evening card, as she is set to face a half-dozen rivals. In her OSS win at Lebanon, driver Tony Hall sent her to the front and gave her a breather midway through the race, then held off odds-on favourite Cating Around to win by one and a quarter lengths. She lowered her mark to 1:52.3 in winning a recent overnight at the Meadows.
Forever La Nigh was a winner at Lebanon, but that was her only victory this season in four starts. She’ll have to do some serious pacing to beat Cating Around, the freshman filly champion in Ohio in 2012. The bay filly has won twice in five starts this year and oddsmakers have her as the 8-5 favourite.
In recent weeks, Cating Around has been competing successfully but without a victory against the top older pacing mares at Scioto. Chris Page will drive her for trainer Brian Brown.
Please note that post time at Scioto Downs on Saturday is 5:30 p.m. to allow fans to watch and wager on the Belmont Stakes.
(Ohio State Racing Commission)