Scioto Downs is closing in on the conclusion of its 90-day race meet on Saturday (Sept. 7) and will be going out with a bang. Closing night will feature the Charlie Hill and Jim Ewart memorial races alongside the Ohio Sires Stakes consolations.
This season, Scioto Downs has raced for $15 million in purses, set track records and gained memories for all involved.
Part of the main event on Saturday is the $220,000 Charlie Hill Memorial. The Charlie Hill will showcase some of the best trotters in the sport, with a field of nine very talented trotters taking the spotlight behind the gate. Scioto had two horses supplement into the race at $10,000 apiece.
Wonder girl Atlanta was supplemented into the Hill where she has drawn Post 7 with familiar hands at the lines, Yannick Gingras. Atlanta is coming off of a huge second in the Maple Leaf Trot at Woodbine Mohawk Park last week, where she was defeated by Guardian Angel AS. These two will have another chance to battle it out down the stretch, as Guardian Angel AS will start from Post 8.
Ake Svanstedt also supplemented Plunge Blue Chip, who has drawn Post 4.
$220,000 Charlie Hill
(Post – Horse – Driver – Trainer – Morning Line Odds)
1. Bridge To Jesses-Trace Tetrick-Roger Welch-20/1
2. I Know My Chip-Ronnie Wrenn Jr.-Walter Haynes Jr.-25/1
3. Marion Marauder-Scott Zeron-Paula Wellwood-9/2
4. Plunge Blue Chip-Ake Svanstedt-Ake Svanstedt-6/1
5. Mission Accepted-Chris Page-Ron Burke-8/1
6. Pinkman-Brett Miller-Per Engblom-10/1
7. Atlanta-Yannick Gingras-Ron Burke-5/2
8. Guardian Angel As-Tim Tetrick-Anette Lorentzon-8/5
9. Top Flight Angel-Andy Miller-Julie Miller-20/1
The co-main event of the evening (Race 14) is the Jim Ewart Memorial. The Ewart showcases the sport’s top pacers, and Scioto has brought 10 of them together to battle it out for the lion’s share of a $440,000 purse. With tons of talent between the group, there will be plenty to keep your eye on.
An Ohio-bred favourite, Lather Up, will make his way back to the Buckeye State. The connections of Lather Up supplemented for $20,000 to be a part of history. Last year, Lather Up was the three-year-old Ohio Sires Stakes pacing champion, and has gone on to have a phenomenal four-year-old season, equalling the all-age world record mile of 1:46 set by Always B Miki.
Andrew Harris trainee Jimmy Freight has drawn Post 1. Jimmy Freight has put up some good miles this season and is hanging in there with the best. The post draw is definitely going to play into his favour, as he has the gate speed to leave and stay on the front end where he likes to be.
Courtly Choice is coming off a huge upset win in the Canadian Pacing Derby over Lather Up and Western Fame and they will have a rematch on the five-eighth-mile track.
$440,000 Jim Ewart
(Post – Horse – Driver – Trainer – Morning Line Odds)
1. Jimmy Freight-Scott Zeron-Andrew Harris-6/1
2. McWicked-Brian Sears-Casie Coleman-9/2
3. Donttellmeagain-Tim Tetrick-Jim King Jr.-15/1
4. Western Fame-Dan Noble-Dan Noble-8/1
5. This Is The Plan-Yannick Gingras-Ron Burke-6/1
6. Filibuster Hanover-Chris Page-Ron Burke-15/1
7. Courtly Choice-James MacDonald-Blake MacIntosh-5/1
8. Lather Up-Montrell Teague-Clyde Francis-9/5
9. Always A Prince-David Miller-Tyler George-20/1
10. Hitman Hill-Aaron Merriman-Chris Oakes-20/1
Each division of the $75,000 sires stakes consolations will be contested, and will showcase two-year-old colt and filly trotters and pacers, as well as three-year-old colt and filly trotters and pacers. The older Ohio-sired mare and horse/gelding pacers will also get in on the action.
Post time for closing night at Scioto Downs will be at 6:30 p.m.
(With files from Scioto Downs)
The 2019 Ewart is the first
The 2019 Ewart is the first race in harness racing history in which every horse entered has gone a mile in 1:49 flat, or less.