Grove City, OH — While some regulars that compete in the Eldorado Scioto Downs open events were missing in action this week, there was no shortage of good horses to race in those spots. On Friday, Flemsteen narrowly took the $26,000 Open Trot in 1:52.4, while Tickertape Hanover took the $23,000 Open II Pace on Saturday in 1:50.2.

Tony Hall sent Chase H Hanover straight to the lead Saturday in the Open II Pace and clocked fractions of :26.1, :55.3 and 1:22.3. Tyler Smith was tight on his back with Tickertape Hanover, while Burnout (Josh Sutton) made a first over bid and kept Tickertape Hanover locked in and loaded in the pocket.

Jumping into the passing lane the stablemates duked it out through the wire with Tickertape Hanover getting up to win by a neck over Chase H Hanover. Saulsbrook Genesis tipped three-wide around the last turn to get up for third.

Tickertape Hanover is a 4-year-old gelded son of Hunsville-Time Saver Hanover. Owned by Odds On Racing and trainer Virgil Morgan Jr., Tickertape Hanover now has nine lifetime wins and $233,826 in earnings.

Flemsteen narrowly took the $26,000 Open Trot in 1:52.4. Conrad photo.

In Friday’s Open Trot, Smoking Jet (Chris Page) left off the car to hit the opening quarter in :27 with Flemsteen (Trevor Smith) settling in. Going into the second turn, Wildfire Seelster (Jeremy Smith) flushed Flemsteen out to come first up by the :56 half.

Straightening out on the backstretch, Smoking Jet went offstride, but Flemsteen was still parked, just a half-length in front of Iwon’t Backdown AS (Tony Hall) who was sitting in the pocket. By the 1:24.1 three-quarters, Iwon’t Backdown AS put his head in front and through the turn seemed to have put away Flemsteen. However, the two battled down the stretch, with Flemsteen winning by a head. Rose Run Valor (Kayne Kauffman) finished just a half-length back in third.

Flemsteen is trained by Chris Beaver, who owns the 6-year-old gelded son of Explosive Matter with Bill Manes and R.B.H. Ventures. The win on Friday was Flemsteen’s 23rd of his career and fourth on the year, which pushed his seasonal earnings to $100,390 in 15 starts.

The 90-day 2024 Eldorado Scioto Downs race meet runs through Saturday (Sept. 14). More information about racing at Scioto can be found on the Eldorado Scioto Downs website.