Real Touch was last for the first half-mile and yet prevailed by a head in a wild four-horse photo finish to win the $15,000 Fillies and Mares Open at Scioto Downs on Friday.
The win was the eighth in 14 starts this season for the sophomore daughter of Real Desire, who defeated older mares for the third straight week at Scioto.
Trainer-driver Ray Paver owns her in partnership with Knox Services and Slaughter Racing Stable LLC. Her winning time was 1:53.1.
Tu Sei Bella was fastest away from the gate, but she yielded to the even-money favourite Stacked Deck and driver Dan Noble. Real Touch was last in the field of nine and almost 10 lengths behind the leader when Stacked Deck passed the half-mile marker in :55.3. That’s when Paver loosened the lines on Real Touch and she responded with a breathtaking three-wide move down the backstretch.
By the time the fillies and mares turned into the homestretch, Real Touch was at the throat latch of Stacked Deck. Soon she was joined in the battle by Tu Sei Bella and Ocean Pearl. Stacked Deck wasn’t willing to surrender. The quartet swept under the wire with Real Touch in front of Tu Sei Bella by a head with Stacked Deck just a neck back in third. Ocean Pearl was fourth, a half-length behind the winner.
The Open II Pace for Fillies and Mares went to favoured The Rainmaker with a 1:53.1 mile for driver Dan Noble, trainer Jim Arledge Jr. and owner Charles Stein.
Ed Telle, owner of last year’s Little Brown Jug winner Big Bad John, won his first race as a trainer since 2004 on Friday night at Scioto. His freshman filly Doubelieveinmagic won 1:54.4 at odds of 21-1 and she topped a trifecta payoff of $15,297.
(Scioto Downs)