by Jason Roth, for Scioto Downs

Columbus, OH — State-breds took the stage once again at Scioto Downs on Thursday (Aug. 6) when 66 2-year-old trotting and pacing colts raced for more than $277,000 in purses for their respective divisions of the Ohio State Fair races.

Nothin Fancy was a 1:53.3 winner for driver Kyle Ater.

Nothin Fancy stayed perfect, winning the fastest and last division of pacers in 1:53.3 for driver Kyle Ater and trainer Fred Huff Jr. Now four-for-four, the son of Metropolitan and JL Cruise The Nite has $60,009 in earnings for Huff and John Fairchild.

Greg Grismore steered Smoke Up Johnny to a 1:53.4 win in the third division for trainer Doug Hinklin. The Big Bad John colt out of Leda’s Twoeleven is owned by Parent Racing Stable LLC.

Aloha John (Big Bad John-Hawaiian Dixie), driver Kurt Sugg and trainer Eric Hamlet took the opener for pacers by a neck in 1:55 and he now has more than $23,000 in earnings.

The second division went to Primo Giovanni and Chris Page, who won by a nose over Trayvon and Montrell Teague. The Carl Howard bred and owned son of JK Reunited by Big Bad John won in 1:55.1. It was Primo Giovanni’s third win in as many starts for trainer Virgil Morgan Jr.

Ben Holton/Conrad photos

Kanthaka and Dave Palone were 1:58.1 winners on Thursday.

In the first of three divisions for trotters, Kanthaka (Triumphant Caviar-Elena) won by 5-1/4 lengths. Dave Palone piloted the Chris Beaver trainee to a 1:58.1 victory.

Josh Sutton drove Emerald Chip to his first lifetime win for trainer Mike Wilson in the second division for trotters in 1:59.1. Sutton also co-owns the colt by Chip Chip Hooray out of Emerald Myway with VIP Internet Stable LLC and Mystical Marker Farms LLC.

In the last division Kayne Kauffman had Deep Question (Deep Chip-Mafia Princess) go gate-to-wire, winning in 1:59.1. Jim Dailey trains the colt for Jerry Zosel and Kathy Ratcliff. Deep Question has now won two of his four lifetime starts.

State Fair action continues at Scioto Friday and Saturday evenings with the 3-year-old divisions. Filly pacers and trotters race on Friday with colts on Saturday. First post for both evenings is 6:30 p.m.