A pair of top notch $100,000 invitational paces took center stage at Eldorado Scioto Downs on Friday (Aug. 19). Tattoo Artist won the #Senditin Invitational for male pacers while Test Of Faith set a new track record in the Cleopatra Invitational for mares.
Tattoo Artist and Dexter Dunn took the #Senditin Invitational in wire-to-wire fashion. Leaving from post eight, the five-year-old son of Hes Watching went straight to the top, setting fractions in :25.4, :53.3 and 1:20.2 before tripping the wire in 1:48.4. The Virgil Morgan Jr trainee opened up by lengths headed to the three-quarter pole. Never looking back, Tattoo Artist bested defending champion Workin Ona Mystery (David Miller) while Charlie May (Brett Miller) rallied for third.
In 16 seasonal starts, Tattoo Artist has posted seven wins, five seconds and two third place finishes. So far in 2022, the stallion has bankrolled $481,320 for owners Let It Ride Stables, Frank Cannon and Diamond Creek Racing.
Test Of Faith (pictured above), driven by David Miller, became racing’s newest double millionaire with her Cleopatra victory in 1:49. Unphased by trailing post 10, the 2021 U.S. Horse of the Year got away fourth. Test Of Faith quickly took control of the field as soon as the dust settled. The daughter of Art Major grabbed the lead at the half and cruised across the finish line in track record time for four-year-old mares. Grace Hill (Dunn) finished second with Gias Surreal (Merriman) in third.
Trained by Brett Pelling, Test Of Faith has won six of 11 starts this year for owners Melvin Segal, Kentuckiana Racing Stable and Eddie Gran. She has banked $476,317 in 2022 with the Cleopatra victory pushing her over the $2 million mark in lifetime earnings.
Rookie pacers deliver in Ohio Sires Stakes
Two divisions each of two-year-old colt pacers and two-year-old filly pacers took to the track for the third leg of the Ohio Sires Stakes as part of the undercard.
Racing Rampage (Aaron Merriman) made it four in a row by winning the first $55,000 division of two-year-old colt pacers in wire-to-wire fashion. The gelded son of Racing Hill was determined to gain control of the field directly out of the gate. At 1-2, Racing Rampage never looked back, posting fractions in :26.2, :56.3, and 1:24.1 before tripping the wire in 1:51.3. Downrightdelicious (Matt Kakaley) finished second while Rockmelikeyameanit (Dan Noble) was placed third after the official ruling.
Racing Rampage now boasts $117,940 in lifetime earnings. As a $10,500 yearling purchase out of the Buckeye Classic Sale, the gelding has won four of five starts with an additional third place finish. Racing Rampage is conditioned and co-owned by Darren Dowler alongside Lawrence Bettler.
The Real Way (Chris Page) took the second division of freshman colt pacers in 1:51.2. After getting away fourth, the 3-5 favorite followed cover on the backside. The Downbytheseaside colt pulled three-wide in the final turn to secure his victory with lengths to spare. The Real Way bested Burnout (Trevor Smith) in second with Wicked Character (David Miller) in third.
The Ohio Sires Stakes victory pushed The Real Way over the $100,000 mark in lifetime earnings. The Ron Burke trainee has four wins in five starts for owners Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Knox Services, and Let It Ride Stables.
The first $55,000 division of two-year-old filly pacers was taken by Fear Of Sports (Tyler Smith) in 1:52.2. The Fear The Dragon filly found a pocket trip behind My Red Sea (Kayne Kauffman) and sat patiently until the final turn. Fear Of Sports hit another gear and cruised across the finish line. My Red Sea held on for second while Seaside Tina (Brett Miller) completed the trifecta.
In six starts, Fear Of Sports has tallied four victories and two second place finishes. Trained by Kelly O’Donnell, she has earned $101,625 for owner and breeder Emerald Highlands Farm.
Mcseaside (Page) earned her first lifetime victory in the last division of the Ohio Sires Stakes. The filly raced conservative in the back of the pack as the battle waged ahead. Headed to the backside, the daughter of Downbytheseaide was still seventh off the rail. Mcseaside swung three-wide through the final turn to pull away from the field. Her six-length victory came in 1:52.1. Cruise Alert (Dexter Dunn) finished second and No Fear Intended (B.Miller) rallied for third.
As a product of the Burke Brigade, Mcseaside more than doubled her career earnings to $46,625 with the win. She is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Beasty LLC, J&T Silva Stables, and Knox Services.
Live harness racing returns Saturday (Aug. 20) at Eldorado Scioto Downs. First post is 3:15 p.m.
(With files from Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association)