Seventeen races went behind the gate on Friday (July 8) at Eldorado Scioto Downs. Amongst rain and downgraded track conditions, two mares, Chuppah On and Refined, highlighted the program.
Overlooked at 20-1, Chuppah On (Tony Hall) stole the $30,000 Fillies and Mares Open Pace in 1:51.1. The five-year-old mare by Art Major got away fifth and found herself first-up by the half. Chuppah On pressed forward to edge Penpaperpaige (Tyler Smith) out by a neck. Coral Reef Hanover (Brady Galliers) was third.
The victory established a new lifetime mark for Chuppah On. Trained by Tahnee Camilleri, the mare has four wins, six seconds and five thirds in 18 seasonal starts. She has bankrolled over $97,000 in 2022 for Brian & Ira Wallach Racing.
The co-featured $30,000 Open Trot went to Refined (Mitchell Cushing) in 1:53.3. Despite being the only mare in the field of eight, Refined went off as the betting favourite. The six-year-old daughter of Uncle Peter used this week’s post position relief to her advantage. Refined got away fourth but quickly pulled after an opening quarter in :28. Marching directly to the front, the mare set fractions in :55.3 and 1:25 before tripping the wire. Kings County (Brett Miller) finished second while Tough Muscle (Hall) completed the trifecta.
Refined has now won six of 13 seasonal starts for trainer Virgil Morgan Jr. She is owned in partnership by Joyce McClelland and Larry Wills.
When the eight-horse field for the $12,000 GLADA trot was turned loose, Don Sherman sent Fingals Wave for the lead from the five-hole and they zipped by the quarter in :28.1 and led their competition by a solid length.
Once on top, Sherman kept the pedal to the metal and they showed the way by the half in 58 seconds as Floyd Rhodes and Forever Jesse were caught on the limb. Fingals Wave and Forever Jesse battled head-to-head by the three-quarters in 1:28.1 and they were still side by side when they rounded the last turn and headed for home. In deep stretch, being hung out was taking a toll on Forever Jesse and Fingals Wave began to open daylight on his competitor and he zipped home a 1-1/4-length winner as the timer flashed 1:56.4. Finishing in third-place, 2-1/2 lengths behind the winner, was Milfords Z Tam, who was driven by Alesha Binkley
Fingals Wave, a six-year-old Kadabra gelding, is owned by Paul O'Neil and trained by Jessica Roegner. Sent off as the favourite, Fingals Wave paid $4.20 to win.
Live racing returns Saturday to Eldorado Scioto Downs. First post is 3:15 p.m.
(With files from OHHA and GLADA)