Docs Yankee and driver Dan Noble went to the front at the start of Ohio Breeders Classic for sophomore pacing males and dared anyone to catch him. And none of his half-dozen rivals could do that
.
Docs Yankee sailed across the wire in 1:53.1 courtesy of a final quarter in :27 seconds, which put him 2-1/2 lengths ahead of Sand Summerfield and Standing Tough. Kid Cruiser was fourth.
The victory avenged his narrow loss last week to Kid Cruiser last week in an Ohio Sires Stakes at Scioto.
“We got softer fractions this week and that made the difference,” said Noble after the race.
The son of Yankee Cruiser has now won half of his 12 starts this season for trainer Ron Potter and the Bay Racing Stable of Delaware, Ohio.
In the Ohio Breeders Classic for three-year-old pacing fillies, several fillies shot out of the gate in quest of the front end but Rub Thing and driver Chris Page got there first. That forced Up Front Cruiser to make her challenge approaching the half-mile marker.
Rub Thing and Up Front Cruiser paced as a team down the backstretch during the :27.1 third quarter and Up Front Cruiser gamely held her position until they turned into the homestretch.
Rub Thing then put her rival away as 25-1 shot Peeeeyouuuuuuuu edged past Up Front Cruiser for second place. The mile was timed in 1:54.
Rub Thing is owned by trainer Virgil Morgan.
“I wanted to control the pace and force Up Front Cruiser to come first over,” said Chris Page after the race. “Virgil has Rub Thing in real top form right now.”
Jailhouse Scorpion took the Ohio Breeders Classic for sophomore trotting males for trainer Jeff Cox and driver Greg Grismore. He was clocked in 1:57.
Hezahumer left fastest of the nine trotters with an opening panel in :28.3. When the pace moderated, Grismore sent Jailhouse Scorpion to the front in the second quarter, only to look over his shoulder at the half-mile pole to see J.D. Wengerd and Bookem. Jailhouse Scorpion and Booken engaged in an exciting duel last week at Scioto with Jailhouse Scorpion winning by a neck.
Jailhouse Scorpion kept Bookem parked out during the final half-mile and then sprinted away from Hezahumer and Wolf Creek Ted to win by 2-1/4 lengths. Bookem faded to finish fourth.
Joseph Trice owns the winner who now has three wins in a dozen starts.
Reess Racer and Too Good Too Pass, the Virgil Morgan Stable entry, went off as the odds-on favourite, but both broke stride and they brought up the rear in the field.
Victory Is Coming was the easiest type of winner for trainer-driver Ammon Hershberger in the sophomore filly trot. She went to the front at the start, set moderate fractions, and discouraged her rivals with a final half-mile in :57.1. Floris Future was second and Chiptoria Secret was third. The time was 1:58.1.
Victory Is Coming is owned by Betty and John Red Shaw. She has nine wins in 12 starts this season.
(Scioto Downs)