For the third straight week, C R Hope came from off the pace to win the Fillies and Mares Open at Scioto Downs in dramatic fashion on Friday night
. As usual, Kyle Ater was in the bike for winning trainer Harley Jolliff, who co-owns the six-year-old mare with Willie Hale.
Driver Jack Dailey shot No Sugar Needed away from the gate like a rocket, and she reached the opening quarter in :26.4 with the five followers being Noble Zena, Shell I Attack, TTs Little Lass, C R Hope, and Carnivalocity.
Dailey backed the tempo down in the second quarter, and nearing the half-mile marker driver J.D. Wengerd tipped Shell I Attack out from third to launch her attack. TTs Little Lass picked up Shell I Attack’s cover and Kyle Ater put C R Hope on the back of TTs Little Lass.
The half was paced in :56 seconds. The pace quicked in the third quarter as they reached the next station in 1:24.3 and No Sugar Needed still controlled the race, but was under assault from Shell I Attack. Ater tipped C R Hope three-wide in the final turn to move her into contention.
As the field turned into the homestretch, No Sugar Needed suddenly broke stride and Shell I Attack inherited the lead. Ater had C R Hope in high gear and she quickly put Shell I Attack away and coasted to an easy victory in 1:54.2.
Shell I Attack finished second while Carnivalocity rallied for Shawn Barker to grab third place.
With three straight victories, C R Hope now has six wins in 24 starts in 2011.
(Scioto Downs)