Driver Chris Page showed why he’s the leading driver at Scioto Downs this season as he swept the finals of the Heart of Ohio series for trotting mares and the Capital City series for pacing mares on Saturday
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In the $10,000 Heart of Ohio, the 25-1 shot American Pride left the gate the fastest, but soon yielded to Page and Whybabywhy, the 1-9 favorite. The first quarter was covered in 28.1, then Page tapped the brakes with the 5-year-old mare. No one was willing to launch an attack and Page stepped on the gas in the third quarter.
With a quarter-mile remaining, the race was essentially over as Whybabywhy held a comfortable lead although She’s Not Red and Spider Woman rallied in the stretch to finish just three-quarters of a length behind the winner in the 1:56.4 mile.
Brian Georges trains Whybabywhy for owner Steve McDaniel, Jr.
Page used similar tactics to win the Heart of Ohio final with Don’t Blame Her in 1:54.1. She was parked to the quarter in 27.2, but then gained command and slowed the tempo through the middle half. Don’t Blame Her kicked home with a final panel in 28.1 to win by three-quarters of a length over Danika Hanover and Marvel Sahbra.
Virgil Morgan, Jr. trains Don’t Blame her, a 6-year-old daughter of Village Connection, for owner Matthew Toler of Ohio.
(Scioto Downs)