Bettors at Scioto Downs felt that Cant Lose would make good on his name in Friday’s Open Trot and sent him off as the odds-on favourite. The four-year-old son of Cantab Hall didn't disappoint as he led all the way to trip the timer in
1:56.3.
Trainer Ty Van Rhoden was in the bike behind Cant Lose, who is owned by Thomas Stubbs of Alledonia, Ohio. It was his seventh win in 13 starts this season and his victory took a tick off his lifetime mark.
Cant Lose was trailed in the early stages by CJs Super Secret and SJs Caliente, but during the third quarter driver Chip Noble moved the 3-2 second choice ML Cupcake into contention. The sophomore filly was no match for Cant Lose in the final quarter and was two and a quarter lengths back at the wire. CJs Super Secret held for third for driver Trent Tharps.
In the Billings Amateur Trot, Ilooklikerudy scored in 1:59 for driver Michelle Ruvola over Eye On The Prize (Bob Troyer) and Done Dreamen (Bud Hatfield).
In an official workout before the races on Friday, Go Tapaigh just needed a satisfactory performance line for an upcoming race, but he got a lot more than that. The two-year-old gelded son of Andover Hall trotted in 1:56.4, lowering the track standard for freshman trotting geldings that had stood for a decade. It's also the fastest trotting mile ever by a two-year-old at the central Ohio track.
Chip Noble drove the colt for trainer Danny Collins and owner Wayne Zollars of Mt. Vernon, Ohio. The youngster started behind the gate and trotted through fractions of :29.1, :59, 1:28, and home comfortably in 1:56.4.
The former track record for two-year-old trotters at Scioto was 1:57.2 shared by the gelding Hez Striking and the filly Rose Run Keepsake (2008). The record for colts was 1:57.3 by Deep Chip (2008).
Go Tapaigh is a half-brother to the noted international star Wesgate Crown 5, 1:52.3 ($2,574,045). He has won three times in five starts this season, including a 1:57.4 score at The Meadows in Pennsylvania Sires Stakes competition. He broke stride in races at Pocono Downs and Harrah’s Chester in August, so he was placed in a qualifier at Scioto on Tuesday. He once again broke stride and used the official workout to acquire a line without a break.
(Scioto Downs)