Lather Up outduelled and out lasted a feisty Bounding Dragon and drew away to a track-record 1:49.4 victory in a $59,400 division of the Director of Agriculture pace for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings at Eldorado Scioto Downs on Saturday, Aug. 4.
Bounding Dragon took the early lead while Lather Up was three wide in the turn around Slick Mick trying to get to the front. After they got to the quarter in :26.4, Lather Up drew even with Bounding Dragon in front of the stands and tried to push ahead. However Noble had no intentions of letting the 1-9 post-time favourite take the lead and Lather Up parked.
They got to the half in :53.3 and when they straightened to the backstretch, Teague asked Lather Up for more and the colt responded, passing Bounding Dragon and clearing command in 1:21.
Noble pulled Bounding Dragon again and came after Lather Up in the final turn. Noble was urging Bounding Dragon to rally but the closest he got was to the leader’s tail. Teague sat chilly with the lines raised high as Lather Up finished the job in 1:49.4, winning by two lengths.
The time was a track record for three-year-old pacing colts at Scioto Downs, breaking the old standard set by P-Forty-Seven in 2005.
This was North America Cup-champion Lather Up’s first start back after making a break in the $500,000 Hempt Stake at Mohegan Sun Pocono on June 30. Going off the 1-9 favourite, Lather Up now has seven wins in eight starts this year and breaks the half-million mark with for earnings with $500,365 in the bank. The I’m Gorgeous colt out of Pocket Comb is owned by Gary and Barbara Iles and is trained by Clyde Francis. He paid $2.10 to win.
The other $58,700 division of the Director of Agriculture pace went to Sectionline Bigry, by Pet Rock-Aquatic Yankee, who benefited from a patient drive by Aaron Merriman.
After being locked in fifth at the three-quarters, Sectionline Bigry found room to move in the last turn and rushed up the pylon lane, which opened when Cinnamack pulled the pocket on the leading Rockathon, and motored through to outpace the leaders by a half-length in 1:50.1.
It was the sixth win of the year for Sectionline Bigry, paying $10.20 to win, who has now earned $111,640 for owners Harold Lee and Harold L. Bauder. Steve Baulder trains the gelding.
There were also two divisions of the Governor’s Cup Trot for three-year-old colts and geldings on the card Saturday.
Two O B Wonkenobi, by Dejarmbro-Shannon Hall, was victorious in the fastest $57,700 division after he got away third and sat off a battle on the front before pulling first over and taking the lead by the half. From there he sprinted and opened a two-length lead at the wire where he was a wrapped-up winner in 1:53.2 for driver Sam Widger.
Two O B Wonkenobi, returning $12.20 to win, now has five wins on the year which have helped him earn him $77,045 for owners Shara Weaver and Madeline Roche. The gelding is trained by Ernie Gaskin.
The other $57,000 division was won by Pass The Vape, by Dejarmbro-Vapor Rises, and driver Derek Watiker. They took the lead at the quarter and dictated fractions the rest of the mile, holding off a late charge by MVP Luke and Uncle Buck to win by a half-length in 1:55.3.
Pass The Vape, paying $6.40, now has five wins for the year and they have pushed his bankroll to $99,360 for owner Lionel Ray Watiker. The winner is trained by his driver, Derek Watiker.
(With files from the USTA)