The four-year-old pacing mare Idol stole the spotlight at Scioto Downs on Friday night from the freshman fillies in the Ohio Sires Stakes
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Idol cruised to a track record 1:51.4 in winning her first race in eight starts this season for driver Chip Noble and trainer Jim Pollock, Jr. Noble sent the 4-1 choice to the front at the start and never touched his mare as she cruised to the wire three lengths ahead of her pursuers.
Her time was a new track mark for four-year-old pacing mares. The previous record of 1:52.2 was set in 1992 by Shady Daisy.
Dont Blame Her, the overall track record holder for mares with a 1:51.3 mile in 2006, finished second to Idol but was never a threat to the winner. Tu Tu Twain finished third. Favoured Best Of Ball faded to finish fourth after launching a first-over move that never threatened the winner.
Idol is owned by Stephen P. Richard of Massaschusetts and was making her first start after a two-month layoff. She paid $10 to win.
Idol is a daughter of Sharky Spur from the Jate Lobell mare Beam Of Joy.
There were two divisions of Ohio Sires Stakes for freshman filly pacers and trotters on Friday. Osborne’s Sweeper was parked to the quarter by Cruise On Ashley, but led the rest of the way to win her pacing split in 1:56 for driver Ryan Stahl, trainer Eric Hamlet, and owner Jerome Osbourne. Wheres My Ride Closed fast to take second place away from Cruise On Ashley.
The other pacing division was an easy-does-it win for Cruisin Wanda as she led all the way for J.D. Wengerd to score in 1:58.2. Trainer Mike Medors co-owns the filly with Tina Sutermeister. Surf New York and Pacify Sam followed the winner across the wire.
Count Your Credit rallied three-wide in the final turn for trainer-driver Marty Wollam to win the first Ohio Sires Stakes division for trotting fillies. The filly, owned by G&B Racing, is by Full Count and paid $36 to win. Sleek Jessie was second and Jailhouse Mischief took third place.
Photo Memory and trainer-driver Jim Dailey got a victory in other trotting split handed to them when ML Cupcake broke while leading into the stretch. ML Cupcake had wrested control of the race from Photo Memory at the half-mile marker and looked like an easy winner when she broke stride. Photo Memory got a 2:02 mark and a trophy for owners Paul Thiesing and Kimberly Dailey. Tansi was second while Hardrockenjessica was third.
(Scioto Downs)