Sugar Instead continues to roll through the Ohio Sires Stakes for freshman filly trotters as she won for the fourth time on Thursday (Aug. 10) at Eldorado Scioto Downs. Sugar Instead took home the first of two $55,000 divisions, while Roxanna captured her second Sires Stakes win in the other division.
In the first division, Ronnie Gillespie took Sugar Instead to the lead from the rail to grab the lead. The 3-5 favourite fought off a challenge from Westfiftyfive up the backstretch and then held off Possibility down the stretch to win in a new lifetime mark of 1:56.2. Possibility was second while Shes Spicy was third.
Trained by Virgil Morgan Jr., the daughter of Volstead raised her earnings to $153,625 for owners Joyce McClelland and Larry Wills. Sugar Instead has won four of six starts with two second-place finishes.
It was a different story for Roxanna in the second division. The What The Hill filly with Aaron Merriman sat fifth at the half-mile mark, five lengths behind the leaders. Around the final turn, Roxanna went three-wide, grabbing the lead at the top of the stretch and held on to win by a length in 1:57.2. Hot Tea finished second with Ourmomentntime third.
Trained by Chris Beaver, who co-owns with Sandra Burnett, Roxanna has hit the board in three of four starts, winning two, and earning $58,600 this year.
Ohio Sires Stakes action resumes on Friday, Aug. 11 at Eldorado Scioto Downs with the fourth leg for two-year-old filly pacers.
(With files from Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association)