Itrustyou stole the spotlight on Saturday night at Scioto Downs with his track record performance of 1:48.2 in the $25,000 Open Pace.
The six-year-old gelded son by Third Straight out of Dynamic Lady broke the previous record of 1:48.4 set by Paco Labrook in 2013. He’s trained by Ron Burke for Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi and RTC Stables of Pennsylvania.
Itrustyou was driven by Chris Page from post seven in the field of nine. Page fired out for command and definitely had to work for the top. After being parked to the quarter that was paced in :26.1, they finally cleared. The pair had instant pressure from a parked and pressing Ardyne Ace and Randy Tharps, pushing the pace to the half in :54. Torrington and Dan Noble had a great pocket seat to the dueling action and just waited for their chance. Itrustyou responded to the pressure and paced down to three-quarters in 1:21.3 before kicking eight lengths clear of his competition. Torrington held the second spot and Santa Fe Beachboy closed well to grab third.
Big Bossman rebounded in the $40,000 first division of Ohio Sires Stakes for three-year-old pacing colts in 1:53.2. Big Bossman is a gelded son by Feelin Friskie out of Lovely American. He’s trained by Doug Hinklin for Parent Racing Stable of Ohio.
Regular driver Greg Grismore had lines and started from post three in the field of seven. Grismore left for early position and found it in the two-hole behind longshot Lawyer Up and Aaron Merriman. The pair quickly made a brush to retake before the half that was paced in :56.4. Big Bossman was well in hand the rest of the mile. They paced to three-quarters in 1:25.3 and cruised home in :27.3. Big Bossman was victorious by six lengths over Upfront Clays Boy and a rallying Dibs for Josh Sutton.
Soul Train took a new lifetime mark of 1:57.1 in his division of Ohio Sires Stakes. The three-year-old gelded son of Trainforthefuture out of Dances On Air is conditioned by Scott Cox for Parent Racing Stable, Robert Crynick and John Novak.
Master Mighty and Kayne Kauffman were determined to set the fractions in the short field of six and did so in :29.2, :58.4 and 1:28.1. He was almost home free, but Soul Train and Ryan Stahl were able to get up in time by a mere nose. Master Mighty made a break as they crossed the wire, placing him third behind Kurt Sugg’s Bradymeister.
I Know My Chip won his $40,000 division of Ohio Sires Stakes in a lifetime-best 2:00.2. Jim Dailey trains the two-year-old gelded son of Deep Chip out of Madelines Crown for owner Kim Dailey.
Jason Brewer had the assignment from post four in the field eight and was the bettors' choice at 3-5. Brewer let the colt trot when the starter said "go" and grabbed the top before the quarter that was clocked in :29.4. They had company from an outside leaver Chips A Million and Chris Page. They let the pair go before tripping by the half that was trotted in :59.4. Page and Brewer performed the “give and go” and I Know My Chip regained command before the three-quarters that clicked in 1:30.4. I Know My Chip kicked three and a half lengths clear of a closing Ohio Chipster and Chips A Million held on for third.
Western Coby lit up the toteboard with his 1:56.2 performance in a division of the two-year-old colt pace. Western Coby is a gelded son by Western Spirit out of Cole By A Knows. He’s trained by Ron Wagner, who partially owns with Larry Acker and Dean Davis.
Wyatt Irvine had the lines from post nine in field of nine and went off at odds of 55-1. Irvine was content to take back and watch the action from eighth while Cornerback and Ronnie Wrenn Jr. pressed out for command. Ollie Pop clocked the opening quarter in :28.1 before settling for a pocket trip behind Cornerback. Wrenn tripped the half timer in :57.3. It wasn’t until the three-quarters that was paced in 1:27 that Irvine gave Western Coby open road, going three-wide to pass them all in a final quarter he paced in :28.2. Indian Spirit and Kyle Ater also closed well for second and Ollie Pop completed the trifecta.
Neelys Messenger extended his win streak to five with his $40,000 Ohio Sires Stakes win in 1:59.2. Marty Wollam trains and drives the two-year-old colt by Neely Dunn out of Fun Message for Dale and Julie Sweet.
They started from post two in the field of eight and were the slight second choice behind Kick A Lot, who set the fractions of :28.3, :59.3 and 1:29.3.
Wollam sat back in third and watched the action before tipping his colt three-wide in the stretch to win by half a length over Chips Starr and Super Sheff Frosty. Kick A Lot made a costly, quick break in stride causing him to go inside the pylons and to be disqualified and placed last.
Diamondkeeper upsets in his division Ohio Sires Stakes in 1:53.2. The three-year-old gelded son of Pine Valley out of Almahurst Joy is conditioned by Ron Burke for the connections of Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Frank Baldachino and Lawrence Karr.
The undefeated, heavy favourite, Friskie Adam pushed the gate away and was parked to the opening quarter in :26.3. Diamondkeeper and Greg Grismore were sitting sixth and it was until after the half that was paced in :55.2 that Grismore gave Diamondkeeper his command. Friskie Adam hit the three-quarters in 1:23.4, but couldn’t hold off the rally from Diamondkeeper. He scored by three-quarters of a length over Feel The Heat and Friskie Adam held on for third.
Ladys Dude prevailed in a career-best 1:55 in his three-year-old trot division of Ohio Sires Stakes. Ladys Dude recently moved in to the Ron Burke Stable for owners, Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi and Johnny Yoder.
The gelded son by Victory Sam out of Ladys Star went off at odds of 11-1 from post five in the field of six. Josh Sutton had the lines and they pushed the gate away and cleared to the top before the quarter that was clocked in :28.1. From there, Sutton never looked back. The heavy favourite, Rompaway Galaxy, got away an early fourth and was content to watch the action as they hit the half in :57.3, but was underway by the three-quarters that was stopped in 1:26.2. Micallef couldn’t close the gap on Ladys Dude and had to settle for second and Can’tcutthatchip was third.
Chief Talkalot pulled off a gutsy performance in the final division of Ohio Sires Stakes for two-year-old colt pacers in 1:55. Chief Talkalot is a gelded son of Feelin Friskie out Jardin Des Arts. Brian Brown trains for Steve Stewart, Michael Robinson, Robert Mondillo and Steve Cheatham.
Jim Pantaleano drove from post three in the full field of nine and got away an early fourth behind co-favourites Nobles Finesse and Gray Camo. Nobles Finesse set the pace and fractions of :27.2 and :56.4 before Chief Talkalot started his first over bid with his stablemate Rock N Randall in tow. Chief Talkalot and Nobles Finesse went toe-to-toe and stride-for-stride as they clocked the three-quarters in 1:25.1, but Chief Talkalot won the battle by two lengths over Rock N Randall and Nobles Finesse completed the trifecta.
(With files from Scioto Downs)