Six divisions of Ohio State Fair races went postward Friday, Aug. 2 at Eldorado Scioto Downs. After two track records were set for older horses, Swingtown and Chris Page set a national season’s record for two-year-old pacing colts on a five-eighths-mile track, winning his $87,500 Buckeye State Pace in 1:50.4.
After the early going, it looked like Swingtown was going to take a seat but he pushed on to be parked through the :27 opening quarter. Making the front before they went under the line for the first time, Swingtown set fractions of :55 and 1:23.3 before powering home under wraps, with the ear plugs in, to win by 2-3/4 lengths. Fabio Hanover (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) finished second after sitting in the pocket while Downbythewater (Chris Lems) was third.
By Downbytheseaside out of the Art Major mare Swinging Beauty, Swingtown is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Hatfield Stables, Knox Services and R A S Racing. The Ron Burke trainee is now 4-for-4 on the year and has $241,022 in earnings.
The other two-year-old colt pace divisional winner was Rick Wink, another Page/Burke winner, in 1:52.1.
The Bit Of A Legend N colt got away fifth at the :27 opening quarter while Copper Penny (Wrenn) made the early lead before Mr McDragon (Jeremy Smith) took over. By the :56.2 half the outer flow developed with My First Fire (Austin Hanners) coming first up, with Extra Suds (Brett Miller) second over and Rick Wink third over from fifth. After the 1:24.1 third quarter, Extra Suds tipped three-wide with Rick Wink following that cover. Rick Wink won by a length over Extra Suds with My First Fire finishing third.
Rick Wink is now also 4-for-4 for owners Burke Racing Stable, R A S Racing, Knox Services and J&T Silva-Purnell & Libby. Out of the McArdle mare McGrin N McBare It, Rick Wink now has $146,015 in earnings.
Three divisions of the Ohio State Trot were held with two of the winners, Battle Hill and What A Buckeye, leading gate-to-wire in their respective victories.
What A Buckeye (Dan Noble) set fractions of :28.3, :58.4 and 1:28.2 before winning in 1:57.2 by a half-length. Uncle Moneybags (Aaron Merriman) was second with Rose Run Alex (Page) third. What A Buckeye, a gelding by What The Hill out of the Broadway Hall mare Broadway Fantasy, is owned by Anthony Miller and Hagerman Racing and trained by Herman Hagerman.
Battle Hill (Lems) also won gate-to-wire after setting fractions of :28, :57.2 and 1:27. It was a close finish, but Battle Hill prevailed by a quarter-length over Scrappys Love (Merriman) with LT Loverboy (Kurt Sugg) third. The Marseille gelding out of the Kadabra mare Battle Mage is owned by William Hartt and trained by Matthew Burkholder.
The other $75,000 division was won by Hilltop Sonar for the Page/Burke team. The What The Hill gelding got away fifth and sat back while opening fractions of :29.1 and :59.1 were set. By the 1:27.3 third quarter, Hilltop Sonar pulled and started advancing, eventually winning by a quarter-length over Oso Fast (Lems) and Rose Run Arch (Wrenn). Out of the Cantab Hall mare Mariah De Vie, Hilltop Sonar is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Beasty and Rich Lombardo Racing.
Sugar Instead won the lone $193,056 Pride of Ohio Trot for three-year-old fillies in 1:53.
The Volstead filly was parked fourth to the :27.2 opening quarter while Justasiam As (Tony Hall) made the lead. Sugar Instead made the front just as the field went under the wire for the first time. By the :57.2 half Jurassic Hattie (Sugg) had made a first over bid and was nose to nose with Sugar Instead. Not quite able to clear down the backside, Sugar Instead battled back by the 1:24.2 third quarter and prevailed to win by three-quarters of a length over Legacy Affair (Wrenn) who came screaming down the passing lane; pocket sitter Justasiam As was third.
Sugar Instead, trained by Virgil Morgan Jr. and owned by Joyce McClelland and Larry Wills, now has $617,714 in lifetime earnings and is a perfect 6-for-6 on the season.
Ohio State Fair action concludes Saturday (Aug. 3). Due to the partial card cancellation on Thursday, there will be two divisions of the two-year-old filly trot and one division of the two-year-old filly pace held as non-betting races at 5 p.m. The regular card will start at 5:45 p.m. and includes two divisions of the three-year-old colt pace, two divisions of the three-year-old filly pace and one division of the three-year-old colt trot.
Also on tap for Saturday, the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association and Scioto have partnered to have a free horseshoe decorating station next to the program stand from 5:30-8 p.m. and there will be a petting zoo, bounce house and food truck on site.
(Scioto Downs)