Three-year-old trotting filly Only Take Cash took down the Scioto Downs divisional track record with a 1:53.4 mile on Friday night (August 2) for Canadian Hall of Fame horseman Bob McIntosh.
Leaving the gate from post seven in a $47,500 division of the Pride of Ohio Stakes, 1-5 favourite Only Take Cash progressed to the lead, bypassing early breaker Weslynn Quest. Driven by Aaron Merriman, she set fractions of :27.4, :57 and 1:25.3 with a first-up Aunt Percilla stalled outside of pocket-pursuer Aunt Rose when they turned for home. Only Take Cash held two lengths clear of those two fillies down the lane for the record-setting victory.
Her 1:53.4 winning time was a new track record for three-year-old trotting fillies, shaving one-fifth of a second off the previous mark co-held by Back Splash and Refined -- both fillies posted 1:54 victories in Ohio Sires Stakes action on July 27 with Refined finishing just ahead of Only Take Cash in their division.
After going eight-for-nine and winning the Ohio Sires Stakes Championship in her freshman campaign, Only Take Cash has won three of her first five races this year. The homebred Cash Hall-Armbro Affair filly, who has banked $367,750 to date, is owned by Robert McIntosh Stables Inc., Dave Boyle and Mardon Stables.