To watch a race replay of the Charlie Hill Memorial click here.

Columbus, OH — With $135,000 on the line, Ohio-bred It’s Academic took control and never looked back in winning the Charlie Hill Memorial Trot at Eldorado Scioto Downs on Thursday (May 6). The 4-year-old stallion by Uncle Peter led gate-to-wire for driver Yannick Gingras.

It’s Academic won by two lengths in 1:52.3. Conrad photo.

Getting his own way to a :28 opening quarter and :56 half, no serious bids were made to challenge the leader. Stablemate Mission Accepted (Chris Page) popped the pocket at the three-quarter pole but could not make up any ground. Posting a :27.3 last quarter, It’s Academic won by two lengths in 1:52.3. Mission Accepted finished second and Majestic Player A (Brett Miller) was third. Whata Swan (Trace Tetrick), who supplemented into the race, was fourth.

“He’s just so beautiful to drive,” said Gingras after the race. “He’s two fingers. Just a perfect horse to drive. He was vicious last start at The Meadowlands and he was wrapped up. I liked the fractions, they played into my favor.”

The field of classy trotters had earned more than $4 million going into Thursday’s race, and It’s Academic boosted his lifetime earnings to $560,688 for owner Brad Grant. The trotter just recently moved into the Ron Burke barn after racing up in Canada for Richard Moreau and paid $6.00 to win for his third victory in seven starts this year.

The winner of the Charlie Hill Memorial Trot gets an automatic nomination to the Caesars Trotting Classic scheduled for Sept. 24 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park.

Following the trot was a $30,000 horses and geldings open pace.

Gold Digger King and Tyler Smith pushed the gate away from post five to a :27.2 opening quarter. Century Farroh (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) was not content to sit fourth and made the top going under the wire for the first time to lead through fractions of :55.4 and 1:24.2. Smith slipped into the passing lane deep in the stretch to win by a half-length in 1:52. Century Farroh finished second with The Wild Card (Mitchell Cushing) third.

Gold Digger King, a 5-year-old gelding by Pet Rock, is trained by Scott Mogan and has $298,147 in lifetime earnings for owner Linda Van Camp.

Racing is held at Eldorado Scioto Downs each Tuesday-Saturday with a 6:15 p.m. first post. Closing night is Saturday (Sept. 18). To view the entire 2021 racing schedule, click here.