The majority of card of harness racing on Thursday, Aug. 1 at Eldorado Scioto Downs was cancelled due to track condition, lightning in the area and out of concern for all participants and fans.
Scioto will bring back the three unraced State Fair Races, one division of the pace and two divisions of the trot, on Saturday, Aug. 3 with a post time of 5 p.m. Those races will be held before the regularly scheduled 16-race card starting at 5:45 p.m.
In addition, the two-year-old filly trot leg of the Ohio Sires Stakes scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 8, will be moved to Saturday, Aug. 17 at Scioto Downs.
Two divisions of the Ohio State Fair were held, one division each of the two-year-old filly pace and trot and won by the Chris Page-Ron Burke driver-trainer duo.
Rose Run Allison, by Long Tom, was victorious in the $76,854 Ohio Fairs Trot. Eckert Hill Addie (Dan Noble) left from post eight to take the early lead before Travel Nurse (Brett Miller) took over just before the :28 opening quarter. There was no movement towards the :57 half and as the field was midway down the backstretch, Freedom Hill (Anthony MacDonald) pulled first over and got even with the leader by the 1:26 third-quarter. Rose Run Allison went three-wide around the last turn to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:55.1. Freedom Hill was second with Travel Nurse finishing third.
Rose Run Allison was bred by Rose Run Farm and sold at the Ohio Selected Yearling Sale for $105,000. The filly, who has earned $114,455 in four starts with two wins, is owned by Burke Racing, Hatfield Stables, Knox Services and Beasty.
The $110,417 State Fair Managers Pace was won by The Word Is Out (pictured above), who won nearly gate-to-wire, in 1:53.2. Setting fractions of :27.3, :57.2 and 1:26.1, the Well Said filly kicked home in :27.1 to win by a length and a half over pocket sitter Prolific Fire (Austin Hanners); Anna Loves Bananas (Aaron Merriman) was third after coming three-wide around the last turn.
The Word Is Out was bred by Shaffer & Sons and is owned by Burke Racing, Knox Services, Beasty and R A S Racing. The $24,000 Ohio Selected Yearling Sale purchase now has $202,469 earned in four starts with wins in the Next Generation and the first leg of the Ohio Sires Stakes.
Freshmen colts and sophomore filly trotters will step into the spotlight for the Ohio State Fair Stakes at Scioto on Friday, Aug. 2.
A combined total of six divisions will go behind the gate. Of the six, Ron Burke trains four of the morning line favourites.
Three $54,000 USD divisions of freshmen colt trotters will kick off the night. Twenty-one starters will represent 14 trainers and seven stallions. What The Hill will have seven sons on the track while Long Tom will have six.
Rose Run Alex is the 9-5 favourite in the first division. Trained by Burke, the son of What The Hill has hit the board twice in three lifetime starts. Rose Run Alex won the most recent leg of the Ohio Sires Stakes in 1:56.3. He has bankrolled more than $52,466 for Burke Racing Stable, Hatfield Stables, Weaver Bruscemi, and Knox Services.
Hilltop Sonar is the even-money favourite in the second division. The gelded son of What The Hill is a recent addition to the Burke Brigade. Hilltop Sonar claims the fastest lifetime mark of the field in 1:55.1, set with his only victory in the second leg of the Ohio Sires Stakes. Originally a $6,000 purchase by Kim Dailey from the Buckeye Classic Sale, Hilltop Sonar earned $39,726 in two starts. Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Beasty LLC, and Rich Lombardo Racing now own the gelding.
In the final division, Lt Loverboy is the 2-1 favourite. The Long Tom gelding is two-for-two in the Ohio Sires Stakes with a mark in 1:56.1. In four lifetime starts, he has amassed $78,768 for owners Wayne Mast Jr and Callam Racing. Daren Harvey trains Lt Loverboy.
For pacing colts, two $85,700 USD divisions will go forth. Seventeen trainers will send 19 two-year-olds to the track. Nine sires will be represented with Downbytheseaside having eight offspring.
Swingtown will look to stay perfect in the first division as the 6-5 favorite. Swingtown won both the $205,479 Next Generation and two legs of the Ohio Sires Stakes. In three starts, the son of Downbytheseaside has a lifetime mark of 1:52.1. The Burke trainee has bankrolled $181,508 for Burke Racing Stable, Hatfield Stables, Knox Services, and R A S Racing.
Rick Wink is the favourite in the second division at 9-5. The Bit Of Legend N colt is undefeated in three lifetime starts with a mark of 1:52.1. With two Ohio Sires Stakes victories, he is the richest in the field with $86,987 in the bank. Burke trains for Burke Racing Stable, R A S Racing, Knox Services, and J&T Silva - Purnel & Libby.
One division of three-year-old filly trotters, carrying a purse of $139,000 USD, will go behind the gate. The field of eight represents eight trainers and six stallions.
Sugar Instead is the 2-1 favourite. The daughter of Volstead is perfect thus far into her sophomore season. She has five wins on the year, including two Ohio Sires Stake leg victories. Sugar Instead is trained by Virgil Morgan Jr. She has lifetime earnings of $521,186 for owners Joyce McClelland and Larry Wills.
The Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association and Scioto have partnered to have a free horseshoe decorating station next to the program stand on Friday and Saturday from 5:30 - 8 p.m. Additionally on Saturday there will be a petting zoo, bounce house and food truck on site.
(Scioto Downs / Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association)