by Dean A. Hoffman, for Scioto Downs

Columbus, OH — Last year’s Little Brown Jug finalist Doc’s Yankee was an easy winner in his qualifier on Tuesday (May 10) at Scioto Downs.

The 1:58.2 final clocking wasn’t as impressive as the pacer’s final half-mile, which was probably clocked right around :55.3. The 4-year-old Yankee Cruiser gelding was driven by Dan Noble for trainer Ron Potter and owner Bay Racing Stable. Last year he won $129,472 and earned a 1:51.4 mark at The Meadows.

Doc’s Yankee hadn’t raced in two months, so Noble tucked him in the pack as the field dawdled to the half-mile marker in 1:01.4. When he found room, Noble angled his pacer out and took off in pursuit of pacesetting Hana Bluegrass. In the stretch, he paced away to win by 3-3/4 lengths.

The sophomore filly Joe’s Miss Daisy was also an impressive winner for Noble as the Jenna’s Beach Boy lass led all the way to score an easy 1:58.3 victory for trainer and co-owner Johnson Hill, Jr. Last she won the $300,000 Kentucky Sires Stakes final as part of a season that saw her first or second in all five of her starts.

In other action on Tuesday, trainer-driver Chris Beaver had a double win with 3-year-old trotters by Here Comes Herbie. The gelding Bruce The Brave won in 1:59 while filly Honey Thorn hit the wire first in 2:00.3.

Scioto opens its 2011 season on Friday night and will race again Saturday night and Sunday afternoon.