Trainer Virgil Morgan Jr. has been the leading conditioner at Eldorado Scioto Downs for nearly three decades, so it’s not surprising that a pair of his sophomore pacing fillies would sweep the $97,260 divisions of the First Lady Pace in Ohio State Fair action on Friday evening, Aug. 1.
In the first division, Odds On Hialeah and driver Dan Noble led gate-to-wire as the heavy favourites to score a 4-1/2-length victory over Prolific Fire (Austin Hanners) and Seaside Wishes (Kayne Kauffman) in 1:51. Odds On Hialeah is owned by Let It Ride Stables, Odds On Racing and Operation Horsepower. The Lather Up-Laughandbehappy filly has won 10 of her 12 career starts and has earned more than $600,000 lifetime.
The second division was much tighter. Favourite Odds On Chesapeake, also driven by Dan Noble, wanted to match her stablemate’s front-running effort, but endured a stiff challenge from the pocket-sitting Bubblles Out (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.), who went into the passing lane but made a couple of bobbles in stride and came up three-quarters of a length short in 1:51. The Downbytheseaside-Macaroon lass has won six of seven starts this season for Odds On Racing and Operation Horsepower.
Both of the ‘Odds On’ fillies were bred by Odds On Nourir.
In the first $110,479 division of the State Fair Managers Pace for freshman fillies, it was a battle between Ron Burke stablemates Shacarri and Seaside Shuffle. Seaside Shuffle and Ronnie Wrenn Jr. grabbed the early lead from post position six and led the field past the opening quarter in :27.1. Chris Page edged Shacarri out of the four-hole and she cleared her stablemate before the half-mile station in :56. Thanks to a :30.2 third quarter breather, the Burke trainees remained 1-2 and were set up for the final quarter sprint. Pacing in tandem, Shacarri used a :27.3 final panel and held off Seaside Shuffle by a quarter-length in 1:54. Vanna By The Water (Austin Hanners) was six lengths back in third. The homebred Summa Cum Laude-Rockin Racer lass is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi and Phil Collura along with Zippett Stables.
The second $111,301 State Fair Managers Pace division concluded with a wild ending, as Madetorockette and Brett Miller used a five-wide move around the final turn and came from last to first to win in a lifetime-best 1:54.3. Zoom Call (Dan Noble) and Laude Da (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) rounded out the trifecta. The homebred Pet Rock-Standing Danette filly is owned by Sharon Edelman and conditioned by Jim Arledge Jr. The winner paid $66.60 to win.
Another stakes winner for the Ron Burke stable, Mocha Hill and driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr. rallied late to score a 16-1 upset in a $98,630 division of the Pride of Ohio Trot for sophomore fillies in 1:54.3. The winner survived a three-horse photo finish with the pacesetting Aunt Laura (Brett Miller) and Dream Something (Tyler Smith). Burke trains the What The Hill-Socha Hanover filly for Burke Racing Stable, Hatfield Stables, Weaver Bruscemi and Knox Services. Mocha Hill, who was bred by Franklin Equine, was the Ohio State Fair divisional champion last season, but picked up her first 2025 win tonight.
The other $98,630 division went to Jailhouse Pearl and Austin Hanners, who used the passing lane to cruise past the leader, In The End (Dan Noble), by three parts of a length in 1:54.2. A fast-closing Pelican Hanover (Kurt Sugg) was third. The winner is trained by Eric Nesselroad for owner/breeder Casey Clemens. A model of consistency, the Long Tom-Jailhouse Broad filly has finished on the board in all but one of her 24 career starts.
The 2025 Ohio State Fair action wraps up Saturday night at Scioto Downs with the Buckeye State Pace (two-year-old colts), Director of Agriculture Pace (three-year-old colts) and Governor’s Cup Trot (three-year-old colts). Post time for the 16-race card is 5:55 p.m.
Scioto Downs will host horseshoe decorating near the program stand Saturday during the State Fair races. Kids of all ages are welcome to pick out a shoe and decorate it with flowers, charms, feathers and more from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. The Ohio Harness Horseman’s Association will be on track Saturday for its ‘Tickets & TVs’ giveaway, along with a State Fair display, and will be signing kids, 12 years of age and under up, for the new ‘Backstretch Buddies’ fan club.
(With files from Scioto Downs; photo of Odds On Hialeah winning on Aug. 1)