Heather Vansickle’s Weslynn Quest set a new track standard of 1:53.3 in her $50,000 Ohio Sires Stakes division on Friday night (August 16) at Scioto Downs while giving Chris Beaver his 1,000th training win. She lowered the record that was recently set by the Canadian-campaigned Only Take Cash, who won the other division of the night.
Reined by Tyler Smith for Beaver, the 16-1 longshot Weslynn Quest bested seven rivals in the second of two OHSS events for three-year-old trotting fillies. The daughter of Manofmanymissions had finished third, sixth and fifth in her previous OHSS contests.
Weslynn Quest, who was unraced as a freshman, picked up her fifth career victory in 12 starts and upped her lifetime bankroll to $61,250 for her connections.
“She’s had some issues in the past and has been a little tough to manage at times,” noted Beaver. “We switched her to an open bridle tonight and that seemed to help.”
Aunt Percilla, who had held off her rival until the final strides after taking command of the race just past the half, put in a game performance to be second by a neck at 4-1 for driver Danny Noble, while the winner's stablemate Aunt Rose was third at 7-2, another length back, for Ronnie Wrenn Jr.
Weslynn Quest is the second foal out of the Windsongs Legacy mare Weslynn Legacy 4, 1:56.4s ($105,006) and is a half-sister to Weslynn Dancer (by Deweycheatumnhowe 5, Q1:53.2 ($398,898).
In the first OHSS division, Only Take Cash was an easy winner as the 1-5 public’s choice for Aaron Merriman in 1:54.2, using wire-to-wire tactics to notch her fourth win of the season and 12th lifetime victory.
The daughter of Cash Hall, who is trained by Bob McIntosh for Robert McIntosh Stables, Dave Boyle and Mardon Stables of Ontario, was last season’s two-year-old champion and now has $117,250 in seasonal earnings and $392,750 in her career coffers.
“She’s awesome,” said an impressed Merriman after the win. “She’s simply push-button and there’s no end to her. Last year, we raced her from behind a lot and I really didn’t want to give her that much air tonight and would rather have had an easier trip, but that was the way things worked out. She’s solid and seemed to handle it well.”
Only Take Cash held off second-place finisher, 5-1 Refined (Brett Miller) by 1-1/4 lengths, with 45-1 longshot Buckeye Starlet notching show honours for Chris Page.
The bay filly by Cash Hall is the fifth foal out of the Garland Lobell mare Armbro Affair 4, 1:53.4s ($430,997) and is a half-sister to Tough Affair (by Muscle Mass) 4, 1:59.2f ($69,968); A Fair Conchnito (by In Conchnito) 4, 1:58.2f ($33,866); and Fit Bit (by Muscle Mass) 2, 2:00.3f ($22,173).
With the four legs of this series now complete, the top eight point and money earners of the three-year-old trotting fillies are: Only Take Cash (141 points, $68,500); Pure Chance (109 points, $52,500); Aunt Rose (103 points, $49,500); Refined (78 points, $37,500); Weslynn Quest (71 points, $33,500); Back Splash (65 points, $31,000); Bellas Rose Power (54 points, $25,000); and Stone In Love (50 points, $25,000).
Ohio Sires Stakes continue Saturday night, August 17 at Scioto Downs with three $40,000 divisions for two-year-old pacing colts in races two, four and six.
(With files from Ohio State Development Fund)