Columbus, OH – Bythemissal set a new track record for older pacing geldings at Eldorado Scioto Downs and was just a tick off the track record for all horses on a five-eighths-mile track when he won in 1:47.1 on Saturday (June 21).
Chris Page was at the lines for trainer Ron Burke and left from post seven, dropping into fifth in the early going. Carbine (Austin Hanners) left alertly from post five to take the early lead but yielded to Helium N (Dan Noble) partway through the first turn to set early fractions of :26.1 and :53.
Going into the second turn, Bythemissal pulled and as the field straightened down the backstretch was going three-wide. By the 1:20 three-quarters, he had swooped to take the lead. Coming home in :27.1, Bythemissal won by 1-3/4 lengths over Surreal Ideal (Luke Hanners). Helium N was third. The entire field was timed in 1:49.1 or better.
Bythemissal, a 6-year-old gelded son of Downbytheseaside, is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Eric Good, Rich Lombardo Racing and Weaver Bruscemi. The victory pushed his career earnings to $2.41 million and tied his lifetime mark taken at The Meadowlands as 4-year-old.
Racing continues Monday (June 23) with 21 qualifiers starting at 11 a.m. (EDT). The Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association is hosting “Burgers and Babies” on the patio for horsemen and guests. Tuesday’s 15-race card will start at 5:52 p.m.
The 90-day 2025 Eldorado Scioto Downs race meet runs through Saturday, Sept. 13. Races are held Tuesday-Saturday with a 5:45 p.m. first post. A special 3:15 p.m. post time will be on the Fourth of July and 6:45 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 12, 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.