Columbus, OH — Trainer Virgil Morgan, Jr. took both opens Friday (May 31) at Eldorado Scioto Downs. In a five-horse mad dash for the finish, Refined came out victorious in the $27,000 Open Trot in 1:53.2, while Strong Poison took the $26,000 Fillies & Mares Open Pace in 1:49.4.

Refined was brave in victory on Friday night, winning the Open Trot at Scioto Downs. Conrad Photo.

Parked three-wide into the turn from post five, Smoking Jet (Chris Page) took over by the 26.4 opening quarter from Refined (Tony Hall), who yielded for the pocket trip. Rose Run Yolanda (Jeremy Smith) moved at the 3/8 pole for a first-up bid and got up to the leader by the 56.3 half. Race favorite Spitfire Oversees, assigned post nine, was second over for Brett Miller and tipped three-wide after the 1:24.4 third quarter.

With five in and four out, only six lengths separated nine of the 10 horses in the field. Refined went up the passing lane to win by a quarter length over Flemsteen (Tyler Smith) who came down the middle of the stretch with a late closing kick. Smoking Jet held on for third with Spitfire Oversees fourth; Rose Run Yolanda finished fifth and completed the five-horse blanket finish.

Refined is owned by Joyce McClelland and Larry Wills and now has two wins in five seasonal starts with Friday’s win putting her at $1,042,783 in lifetime earnings. The 8-year-old daughter of Uncle Peter out of the Malabar Man mare Reinvent was a $15,000 purchase from the 2017 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale.

Leaving straight for the front out of post eight, Strong Poison led at every point of call with Sam Widger at the lines. Hitting the beam in 26.2, 54.1 and 1:21.3, Strong Poison held on by a neck over stablemate Trick of The Light (Dan Noble). Racing For Three (Trevor Smith) came from the back of the back to get up for third.

Owned by Let It Ride and Odds On Racing, Strong Poison is now two for three on the season and is closing in on $900,000 in lifetime earnings. The 4-year-old mare is by Always B Miki out of the Rocknroll Hanover mare Fiyonce was a $50,000 purchase at Lexington in 2021 by her dam’s racing connections, Burke Racing and partners. She was then sold in the 2023 Harrisburg Mixed Sale for $250,000.

The 90-day 2024 Eldorado Scioto Downs race meet runs through Saturday, September 14. Races are held Tuesday-Saturday with a first post of 5:45 p.m. each day, except for Thursday, July 4th with a post of 3:15 p.m. and Friday, September 13 which will have a 6:15 p.m. post to help accommodate horsemen attending the Ohio Selected Yearling Sale. More information about racing at Scioto can be found on the Eldorado Scioto Downs website.