Two-year-old fillies took the stage Thursday (August 3) at Eldorado Scioto Downs in Ohio State Fair action. Iam Independent took the first division for trotters, tying the 1:55.1 track record.
Leaving from post five, Chris Page took Iam Independent (pictured above) straight to the front, albeit parked for the first turn, and hit the quarter in :27.2. Comfortably clocking fractions of :57.1 and 1:26.4, the Triumphant Caviar filly kicked home in :28.2 to win by two lengths. Race favourite Sugar Instead (Ronnie Gillespie) was in hot pursuit pulling from third at the three-quarter pole but could not get there. Possibility (Aaron Merriman) got the pocket trip and finished third.
Iam Independent is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC, Hatfield Stables, Weaver Bruscemi LLC and Knox Services Inc. Bred by Marion Beachy, Iam Independent now has $73,000 in earnings in five starts. Going off at 5-2 she paid $7.40 to win.
Justasiam As took a different approach to win the second $54,500 division by coming off the pace to win in 1:57.3. Tony Hall took the filly off the gate to seventh while Purplepeopleater (Anthony MacDonald) set early fractions of :28.2 and :59.2. Hot Tea (Tyler Smith) came first up with Hall third over. The field hit the three-quarters in 1:28.1 and halfway through the last turn Justasiam As was four-wide. Justasiam As won by a half length over Hot Tea with Chulita (Trevor Smith) finishing third.
Justasiam As is trained by Anette Lorentzon for owner/breeder ACL Stuteri AB. The Lionhunter filly now has $47,250 earned in four starts with three wins. The race favourite paid $4.40 to win.
Roxanna (Merriman) was declared the winner of the third division, going for $55,200, when race favourite Jurassic Hattie (Brett Miller) caused interference late in the stretch. Jurassic Hattie set early fractions of :28, :58 and 1:26.3. Midway down the backstretch Merriman had Roxanna out and moving to close in :28.4 to fall just a nose short. After a judge’s inquiry, Roxanna was placed first at 9-1 to pay $21.20 to win. Roxanna, by What The Hill, is trained by co-owner Chris Beaver and co-owned by breeder Sandra Burnett. Roxanna now has two wins in four starts with $58,600 in earnings.
The two-year-old pacing divisions were won by Seaside Diva and Rose Run Zoey.
Seaside Diva (Page) took the first division in 1:51.2 by a length and a quarter over Flyin Bullets (Miller) and Heartofthesea (Ronnie Wrenn, Jr.). The Downbytheseaside filly took back out of the nine hole and came charging home in :26.4 to win for trainer Ron Burke and owners/breeders Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Knox Services Inc and Let It Ride Stables Inc. Seaside Diva now has three wins in a row in six starts and earnings of $111,750.
Rose Run Zoey also came off the pace to take her division in 1:51.3 for Tyler Smith. Illegal (Kayne Kauffman) finished two and a half lengths back while Daisys Star (Merriman) was third. The Lather Up filly is owned by Miller Racing Stable Inc. and trained by Ryan Miller. She now has four wins and $53,450 in earnings.
The final division of Thursday evening went to Beautiful Lather in 1:52.4. Merriman took the Lather Up filly back to fourth in early fractions :27.1 and :56. By the 1:23.4 third quarter, she was out and moving to challenge the leader Fearless Ginger (Chris Lems). Getting up to win by one and three-quarter lengths, Beautiful Lather took her second win in six starts for co-owner/trainer Tye Loy and David Wills, Richard Coad and Douglas Gregory.
Ohio State Fair action continues Friday (August 4) with two-year-old colt trotters, three-year-old filly pacers and three-year-old filly trotters. First post is 5:50 p.m. Special promotions throughout the weekend include family “state fair” type activities including a petting zoo on Friday, food trucks and bounce house.
(Scioto)