Kevin’s Hit strikes at Saratoga

Saratoga Springs, NY — Kevin’s Hit visited the Saratoga Gaming and Raceway winner’s circle for the third time in his last five starts when taking the featured $5,500 non-winners trot on Wednesday in a lifetime best 2:00.1.

Dave Oxford photo

Kevin’s Hit won for the third time in his last five starts when scoring on Wednesday in a lifetime best 2:00.1.

Guided from the inside post by Frank Coppola, Jr., Kevin’s Hit was content to settle along the pylons in third place as Prize Persona (Dan Cappello, Jr.) marched aggressively on the lead through opening fractions of :28.2 and :58.4.

As the trotters made their second trip down the backstretch, Prize Persona began a steady fade, shuffling back through the field as Rel Postage Due (Henry Westbrook III) and Kevin’s Hit both swung three-wide to challenge for the top spot through a three-quarter split in 1:29.3.

Kevin’s Hit made the lead on the final turn, opening up a one length advantage over Rel Postage Due at the head of the stretch before sprinting clear of that rival in the final yards to prevail by 2-1/2 lengths.

Kevin’s Hit returned $4.00, $4.80, and $2.90 for the victory. Rel Postage Due brought in $10.60 and $4.50 for second, while Holiday Man (Barry Segel) paid $4.20 for third.

Owned and bred by David Coon, John Corrigan, Charles Foster, and Mike Sentiwany, and trained by Mickey McGivern, Kevin’s Hit has now gotten his picture taken in three of his last five starts, which matches the 5-year-old’s win total from his first 59 lifetime outings.

— Michael Costanzo

Pair of track records lowered in Hicksville

Hicksville, OH — Two track records fell during Wednesday’s racing at the Defiance County Fair in Hicksville, Ohio.

Strong Link (Royal Strength-Top Ten Link) took one-fifth of a second off the record for 2-year-old filly trotters when she toured the Hicksville oval in 2:05.3. Larry Rheinheimer trains and drives the filly for Michael Collins.

Kevin and Deloy Appel’s First To Cruise (Yankee Cruiser-First To Stand) captured the second division of the 2-year-old filly pace in 1:59.4 to lower that division’s record by one and four-fifth seconds. Charles Peter trains and drives the filly that is undefeated after eight starts.

Hustlin Hooray (Chip Chip Hooray-Hustlin Halfmoon) won the other split of the 2-year-old filly trot in 2:09.3. Mark Headworth drove the filly for owner-trainer Natasha Brande.

Trainer-driver Indalecio Arriaga steered Precious Dreamer (Precious Bunny-Precious KB) home first in the other division of the 2-year-old filly pace in 2:04.3. Ray Yoder pays the bills on Precious Dreamer.

Oh My Sam (Nobleland Sam-Optodent) captured the lone division of the 2-year-old colt pace in 2:03.4. Tom Moore, Jr. drove the gelding for owner Skip Miller and trainer Chad Williamson.

— Bill Peters

Team Offutt stays hot in Pennsylvania

Meadville, PA — The red-hot father-son trainer-driver team of Joe and Tim Offutt accounted for the back half of the six-race card at the Crawford County Fairgrounds in Meadville, Pa. on Wednesday.

Team Offutt had a Sire Stakes win with the consistent SJ’s Caviar colt Tooth Ache, who’s won six in a row and nine overall at the fairs this year. The sophomore trotting colt tallied in 2:06.3. The other division of the event went to Mablesimamazed (2:06), four-for-four in the Fair Sires, for trainer Cindy and driver Bryce Truitt.

The 3-year-old filly trot winners in the Sire Stakes were DNJ’s Merry Dancer (2:07) and KT Attitude (2:09).

In the overall fair circuit driving chase, Tim Offutt (34) has advanced to second place, right behind last year’s king Steve Schoeffel (44). In the training battle, Joe Offutt leads Roger Hammer 41-31. Thursday Pennsylvania Sire Stakes 3-year-old pacers will be highlighted on the Meadville getaway card. Keystone State fair action next week will be conducted on two fronts, at Indiana and at Wattsburg.

— Jerry Connors