Eight $150,000 Ohio Sire Stakes Championships were held at Scioto Downs Racino Saturday evening. Feelin Lika Winner lived up to his name when he won the coveted three-year-old colt pacing championship in 1:52.2.
The Scott Mogan trainee sat in the pocket most of the way behind race favourite, That Friske Feelin and Tony Hall, after parking the latter to an opening quarter of :26.3.
“We wanted to follow Burke’s horse [That Friske Feelin], as close as we could get to him,” said driver Kayne Kauffman. “We got out of the gate good and I kind of pushed him through the first turn and tried to sting him a little bit.”
That opening quarter didn’t take much out of the eventual winner as he powered home in :28.3 to win by four and three-quarter lengths.
“That was a very tough call [to pull going around the last turn instead of waiting for the passing lane], but my horse felt strong,” continued Kauffman. “Tony’s plugs were out down the backside so we went ahead and made the move and it worked out.”
Feelin Lika Winner is owned by Mogan, Diamond Chip Stables (Judy Weber), AWS Stables (Allen & Carol Marie Schmidthorst) and Charlie Guiler. The gelding by Feelin Friskie out of the Live Love Laugh mare Naughty Sunflower now has $212,235 in lifetime earnings and took a mark earlier this year of 1:51.4 here at Scioto.
Other OHSS winners on the evening included:
Two-Year-Old Filly Trot - In The Grippers (Steven One-Over Baked) in 1:58 for driver Chris Page, trainer Virgil Morgan Jr. and owner Herres Stables LLC (Natilie Herres).
Two-Year-Old Colt Trot - Rompaway Galaxy (Rompaway Wally-Rompaway Wynona) in 1:57.4 for driver Mike Micallef, trainer Krista Williams and owner Rompaway Farms LLC (Thomas Smith)
Two-Year-Old Filly Pace - Shakin Friskie (Feelin Friskie-Shakeurcancancress) in 1:56.1 for driver Dan Noble, trainer Mark Winters Sr. and owners Bret Schwartz, William Bean and Stephen Montemarano.
Two-Year-Old Colt Pace - Chance I Might (Stand Forever-Natures Course) in 1:55.3 for driver Brad Hanners, trainer Jim Dailey and owner Rebecca Dwyer.
Three-Year-Old Filly Trot - Contessa Leigh (Full Count-Howl) in 1:57.1 for driver Sam “Chip” Noble, trainer Marty Wollam and owners G And B Racing (Bradley & George Berlin) and Marty Wollam.
Three-Year-Old Colt Trot - Final Breath (Victory Sam First Breath) in 1:56.1 for trainer/driver Hugh “Sandy” Beatty and owner Duane Lowe.
Three-Year-Old Filly Pace - Igottafeelinfran (Feelin Friskie-Fran Anna) in 1:53.3 for driver Dan Noble, trainer Jim Dailey and owners Jerry Zosel, Kathy Ratcliff and Kimberly Dailey.
Racing will continue for one more week, Wednesday through Saturday, with a post of 6:30 p.m. each day. Saturday (September 14) is closing night at Scioto for the 2013 racing season.
(Scioto Downs)