Columbus, OH — A pair of homebred 4-year-olds took half of the $100,000 Aged Sires Stakes divisions at Eldorado Scioto Downs Saturday (August 30). Paris’s Dragon took the aged pace in 1:49.3 while Jurassic Hattie took the aged mare trot in 1:52.2.
Paris’s Dragon (Dan Noble) led at every call, tripping the beam in :25.4, :54.2 and 1:21.2. Another 4-year-old in the race, Racing Rebel (Chris Page) sat third throughout the mile and could only get within a quarter length of the race winner; Wicked Character (Aaron Merriman) was third and Leaving A Legend (Ronnie Wrenn, Jr.) fourth.
Paris’s Dragon, a 4-year-old gelded son of Fear The Dragon out of the Pet Rock mare Lima Ooh La La, was bred by owner Dennis Owens and is co-owned by Norman Rae Racing. Trained by Christi Noble, Paris’s Dragon now has 16 wins in 41 lifetime starts and $274,747 in earnings.
Jurassic Hattie (Brett Miller) got up for the win in the aged mare trot, crossing the wire in 1:52.2. In a battle for the early lead, Sugar Instead (Tyler Smith) was on the outside with Jurassic Hattie protecting the rail. Sugar Instead made the top at the :27.3 opening quarter, but popping out of the pocket, Jurassic Hattie then led the rest of the way. Pressured by Refined (Noble) hitting the half in :56.1 and the three-quarters in 1:24.1, Jurassic Hattie still had plenty left to win two and a half lengths over Refined. Sugar Instead, another 4-year-old, was third, with Sandis Commano L (Hank LeVan) fourth.
Jurassic Hattie, bred and owned by Jerry Welch, is by Volstead out of the Striking Sahbra mare High Gear Sahbra. Trained by Stacey Van Huizen, Jurassic Hattie now has 14 wins in 34 lifetime starts and $566,594 in earnings.
My Pal Sparky and Cam McCown took the aged trot in 1:53.3. Getting away fifth from the rail, My Pal Sparky sat patiently while the field went to the :27.2 quarter and :55.2 half. After coming up third over, My Pal Sparky tipped three-wide at the 1:24 third quarter and got up in time to win at 19/1 by a half-length. Spaaaanzano (Page) was second; No Nap Nash (Noble) was third, with Count on Cody (Al Manke III) finishing up the superfecta.
My Pal Sparky is owned and trained by Jessica McCown. The 7-year-old gelding by Uncle Peter is out of the Holiday Road mare Gee O’keeffe. The victory marked his 20th lifetime win in 116 starts with $294,629 in earnings.
Celebrate Me Home was an upset winner in the aged mare pace, coming up the passing lane to win in 1:50.2. No Foolin April (Miller) left from post eight to lead the field to the :26.2 opening quarter; the eventual race winner was parked through the first turn with Fearless Ginger (Merriman) three-wide. Celebrate Me Home was able to settle fourth along the rail while Fearless Ginger kept moving to make the top by the :54.3 half. Hey Hey Mama (Noble) came first up to take over mid-way down the backside and as the field hit the 1:22.4 third quarter, Celebrate Me Home was moving third over. Mid-way through the last turn Celebrate Me Home ducked back to the rail and came up the passing lane to win by a quarter length over Hey Hey Mama; Tarapasta (Austin Hanners) was third.
Celebrate Me Home, by Racing Hill out of the Art Major mare Yankee Celebration, was bred by Bradley Wallace. Trained by Ron Burke for Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi and Rich Lombardo Racing, Celebrate Me Home now has 18 wins in 84 lifetime starts and $330,705 in earnings.
The 90-day 2025 Eldorado Scioto Downs race meet is down to the last two weeks and runs through Saturday, September 13. There is a special 16-race Labor Day card on Monday, September 1, with racing continuing Thursday-Saturday later that week. Closing week of Scioto will host races Wednesday-Saturday. First post for all scheduled race days is 5:45 p.m. with exception of Friday, September 12. A special late first post of 6:45 p.m. will help accommodate horsemen attending the Ohio Selected Yearling Sale. More information about racing at Scioto can be found on the Eldorado Scioto Downs website.