Delaware, OH — Herodotus and driver David Miller went to the front on the first turn and controlled the race from there to score a 1:53.1 win in Thursday’s $100,000 Old Oaken Bucket for 3-year-old male trotters at the Delaware County Fairgrounds in central Ohio. The time was a track record for sophomore gelding trotters.

Herodotus scored a 1:53.1 win in Thursday’s $100,000 Old Oaken Bucket. Conrad photo.

Talent Scout, the 2-5 favorite, was third-placed-second after original runner-up Drink Up Drink Up was dropped to third for failure to lose sufficient ground while on a break in the stretch.

Herodotus, who won by 2-1/2 lengths, set fractions of :27.3, :55.3, and 1:24.1. Talent Scout made a bid for the lead after the opening quarter-mile, and got in front briefly, but was never able to clear Herodotus and was parked out the rest of the way.

Ron Burke trains Herodotus, a son of Bar Hopping-Regal Woman, for owners Burke Racing Stable, Hatfield Stables, and Weaver Bruscemi. Herodotus was bred by William Solomon. He has won six of 14 races this year and eight of 25 lifetime, earning $262,956.

Burke has won three of the last four editions of the Old Oaken Bucket. He won last year with S I P in a world-record 1:51.2 and in 2020 with Sans Defaut.

Sent off as the 7-2 second choice, Herodotus paid $9.40 to win.