Gun Show remained unbeaten in four lifetime starts by rocketing past his rivals in the final quarter to win the $53,300 Buckeye State Pace for two-year-old pacing colts at Scioto Downs on Saturday
in 1:56.2.
Dan Noble drove for trainer Jim Arledge, Jr. and owners Milton Leeman and Dustin Arledge.
Kyle Ater and Feelin Perfect left fastest and took the field to the quarter in :28.1 with American Friskie and Noble Trick trailing. Gun Show was back in fifth.
Noble picked up cover from Where U At going to the half, but Gun Show exploded with pace around the far turn to take command. In the stretch, Gun Show drifted out badly, but still had a winning margin of one and a half lengths at the wire. Feelin Perfect held for second while Feelin Cornered closed on the inside for third.
Co-owner Arledge said after the race, “We’re going to have to work on that drifting out. With each start, he’s getting more racy, more cocky, and wants to go.”
The first three finishers were sired by the young stallion Feelin Friskie.
Little Brown Jug eligible Dancin Yankee made a mockery of the $53,700 Director of Agriculture Pace for three-year-old pacing colts by romping to a six-length win in 1:52.3.
Kyle Ater put the son of Yankee Cruiser on the lead approaching the half-mile marker and the others were in futile pursuit. Finn Man was second and Bristle Ridge Bob got the show dough.
It was the fourth win in six starts in 2011 for Dancin Yankee, who recently took a 1:50.2 mark at Harrah’s Chester. The colt pushed his career earnings to $120,520 in 15 starts. He’s trained by Boyd Hudson, Jr. for Robert Briley and Baron Racing Stable.
In other action at Scioto on Saturday, Kayne Kauffman was determined to keep Lis Deo in control of the action in the Open Pace, and those tactics worked. He left the fastest in the six-horse field, yielded briefly to Camcoder, then retook the lead immediately. Even money favourite Boccio made a bid that failed and Lis Deo opened up to win by four and a half lengths in 1:54.3.
(Scioto Downs)