Four-year-old mare Caribean Cruise has found a home at Scioto Downs as she demonstrated again on Friday by winning the Fillies & Mares Open Pace easily
in 1:56.2.
J.D. Wengerd was in the bike for trainer Joshua Cochran, who co-owns the Yankee Cruise mare with John Montgomery. It was her third straight win at Scioto after she had only won once at Northfield in 2011.
Jeremy Smith sent 4-5 favourite TTs Little Lass to the front at the start with Caribean Cruise in the pocket and Im A Native Two sitting third. After a leisurely half-mile in :58.3 seconds, TTs Little Lass picked up the pace and Caribean Cruise stayed glued to her sulky.
In the stretch, Wengerd wheeled Caribean Cruise out and easily paced past the leader to reach the wire one and three-quarter lengths ahead. TTs Little Lass held for second while Im Notbad Hanover got up for third place.
The victory was part of a driving triple for Wengerd.
(Scioto Downs)