Ohio Sires Stakes highlighted the Fourth Of July card at Scioto Downs on Friday.
The pacing and trotting two-year-old colts and geldings took their turns for a chance at the $40,000 purse in their respective divisions.
Ohio Sires Stakes kicked off in race two on the 14-race card. It was a field of eight two-year-old trotters and I Know My Chip and Jason Brewer prevailed in 2:02 for trainer Jim Dailey and owner Kim Dailey.
The son of Deep Chip started from post seven, but that didn’t deter Brewer from leaving for a good, early spot. The pair landed right in the two-hole behind Cooter Dunn and Louis Bauslaugh. They trotted the first quarter in a moderate :30.2. The pace quickened slightly as Cooter Dunn opened up on the rest of field and clocked the halfway point in :59.2. Going down the backside, the pacesetter made a mistake and I Know My Chip inherited the lead and trotted past three-quarters in 1:31.1. He quickly sprinted away from the rest of the field and won the first division by four and a quarter lengths. Neely Dunn Super was second and Marvelous Chip was a closing third for trainer/driver Marty Wollam.
The first division of pacing colts took to the stage in race three. A field of eight colts and geldings was spearheaded by a 6-5 morning line favourite, Gray Camo, who didn’t disappoint his supporters, scoring in 1:56.1. The son of Pine Valley is trained by Ron Burke for the connections of Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi, Richard Suda and Jason Meilillo.
Scioto Downs' leading driver, Chris Page, had the assignment from post two. The pair was unhurried in the early going. They tripped the first quarter in :29.2 and kept the pace moving on to the half in :58.2. That’s when Page pulled on the right line. They cleared to the front before the three-quarter pole, paced in 1:26.4. Nobles Finesse was sitting right on his back and gave him a run for his money down the stretch, but couldn’t quite catch Gray Camo. Born Villain and Jeremy Smith were a closing third.
Kick A Lot dominated his division for trotters by five and a quarter lengths in 2:01.2. The gelded son of Deep Chip is trained by Jeff Cox for owner and breeder Pius Soehnlen.
There was never an anxious moment in this race. Kurt Sugg drove the colt like he was the one to beat. They set the fractions of :31, 1:02 and 1:33 and cruised to an easy victory. Chips A Million, driven by Page for trainer Virgil Morgan Jr., was second-best and Chips Starr for Jim Arledge Jr. was third.
Cornerback was impressive in his division for pacers, setting his mark of 1:56.4. Brian Brown conditions the son by Feelin Friskie for Stephen Sexton of Xenia, Ohio.
Page used the two post to his advantage and left for command in the field of seven. The pair was sitting comfortable to a quarter time of :29 and then an even rated half-mile time of :58.1. With no pressure from the rest of the field, they paced on to three-quarters in 1:27.1 and cruised to a three and three-quarter length victory.
The trotters were back in action in race 11 and Crowned With Glory pulled off a minor upset in 2:03. Crowned With Glory is trained and driven by Ed Greeno Jr. for Eg Trot Llc.
The gelded son of His Higness kept his eye on the prize and never looked back. Greeno guided the colt to an easy quarter of :30 seconds and then let him trot an easier second quarter in :31.4. With the young, green colts making their miscues, the pair just trotted along leisurely and clocked the three-quarter mark in 1:33.1. Greeno and Crowned With Glory went to work in the final quarter, trotted in :29.4, when the pacing-bred trotter, Frisk The Town, came out of the pocket spot and started to close in on the leader. The battle down the stretch came to a hault when Frisk The Town made a break and secured the win for Crowned With Glory. Frisk The Town was second for trainer/driver Ammon Hershberger and Lanterns Chip completed the trifecta.
Ollie Pop capped off the Ohio Sires Stakes action in race 12 with a 1:57 performance. The bay colt by Feelin Friskie is owned by Clyde Perfect of Lawrenceburg, Indiana.
Ollie Pop was driven by U.S. leading driver Aaron Merriman for trainer Ron Potter and started from post two in the field of seven. Merriman steered the colt to an early third spot position. The quick opening fraction of :28.4 left Merriman content to sit tight. They paced on to the half-mile mark in :57.4, set by Indian Spirit and Kyle Ater. Ollie Pop wheeled out to be first up just past the half and would have to work for his first win. They paced down to three-quarters in 1:27, but the colt dug in down the stretch and was rewarded for his hard work and valiant effort. Nashville Bound was pacing up a storm to grab the place spot for driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr. and Western Coby was third.
(With files from Scioto Downs)