Lebanon, OH — Despite over four hours of steady drizzle, Miami Valley Raceway produced another national season’s mark on Saturday night (April 27) when Rock Candy sped to a 1:50.2 score in the $50,000 Scarlet & Gray Invitational for Ohio-sired pacing colts. 

The son of Pet Rock, sent off at 1-9 odds, quarter-moved to the front for driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr. and then advanced comfortably all the way to the wire in the quickest clocking in North America thus far in 2019 over a five-eighths mile oval.  Seattle Hanover (Chris Page) finished a length and a half back with Ohio Vintage (Dan Noble), Black Smile (Brett Miller) and Authentic Hanover (Tyler Smith) rounding out the check getters.

“He’s pretty special,” exclaimed Wrenn Jr. following the race.  “Brian does such a good job prepping his horses for races like this one.”

“I just hope he’s still around in September,” smiled Brown.  “The speeds we’re going these days makes you wonder if they’ll hold up for an entire season.  This horse (Rock Candy) wasn’t a real flashy yearling, but he has turned out better than I expected.  We’ll just have to wait and see if he keeps improving.”

Rock Candy, a $30,000 purchase by trainer Brian Brown at the Ohio Select Yearling Sale in September of 2017, now has five wins and six place finishes in 11-lifetime starts, earning $235,826 along the way.  He is owned by Country Club Acres, Joe Sbrocco and Richard Lombardo.

A tandem $50,000 Scarlet & Gray Invitational for trotting colts were captured by Lane Of Stone (Jeff Nisonger) in 1:55.2, topping Yes (Josh Sutton) by four lengths,  with Shake N Bake (Elliott Deaton), Never Say Uncle (Brett Miller) and Otsego (Wrenn Jr.) next across the finish line.  Another Ohio-sired sophomore who has been first or second in every start, Lane Of Stone now sports seven victories in his nine starts and his earnings now stand at $169,893.  Harry Horowitz owns the son of Wishing Stone that is trained by Mark Winters Sr.

“I caught a break early in the race when Wittyville (the favorite) went off stride,” related Nisonger.  “But this colt had two nice qualifiers and was ready for this kind of mile tonight.” 

GD Western Joe (Page) reached the winner’s circle for the second straight week winning the $22,500 Open I Pace in 1:51.  Granite (Wrenn Jr.) and My Hero Ron (Noble) completed the trifecta.

A $20,000 Open II on the undercard was won by Whataboy (Noble) in 1:51.3, topping Angelo J Fra (Page) and Armabluechipboy N (Tyler Smith).