Columbus, OH – Just two ticks off the track record, Ervin Hanover and Louis Roy took the $250,000 Grade 2 Jim Ewart Memorial Pace in 1:47.2 Saturday (Sept. 6) at Eldorado Scioto Downs. Hillexotic and Austin Hanners took the companion Charlie Hill Memorial Trot in 1:51.1.
Ervin Hanvoer got away fourth from post five as Little Rocket Man (Jeremy Smith) took the early lead going towards the :26 opening quarter. Captain Albano (Todd McCarthy) was already on the move and settled on the lead taking the field towards the :52.4 half.
Pulling second over behind Women Layer (Dexter Dunn), Ervin Hanover stalked the leaders heading to the 1:19.4 third-quarter. Coming down the stretch, it was a three-way battle for the lead with Ervin Hanover victorious by a short neck over Captain Albano; Women Layer was third.
“He doesn’t get off the car when he’s right on it,” said Roy in the winner’s circle interview with Jenna Otten. “Todd did a great job opening up on us a bit when we hit the stretch, when he saw I had to go three-wide, there was still a lot of work to do for my horse, but he’s just so brave, does a great job.”
Ervin Hanover, fresh off a second-place finish n the Canadian Pacing Derby for trainer Dave Menary and owner Pollack Racing, now has 22 lifetime wins in 70 starts and $846,410 in earnings. A 5-year-old stallion by Captaintreacherous out of the Well Said mare Eloquent Grance, Ervin Hanover was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms.
This was the second Ewart victory for Roy, who won in 2023 with Dr. Ian Moore’s Tattoo Artist in 1:48.2.
Named after Jim Ewart, who served at the Scioto Downs race secretary for 26 years, 2025 marked the 12th annual edition of the race. Always B Miki and Brett Miller won the Ewart back in 2016 in 1:47, setting the all-age track record.
In the Charlie Hill Memorial Trot, there were no anxious moments for Hillexotic and Austin Hanners winning in 1:51.1. Leaving off the gate, Jurassic Hattie (Brett Miller) crossed over to the early lead, but Hillexotic was hot on her tail, taking over partway through the first turn. Leading through fractions of :27.1, :55.1 and 1:23, the 1-5 favorite won by a length and a quarter over Southwind Coors (Ronnie Wrenn, Jr.). Ohio-bred pocket sitter Jurassic Hattie, a 4-year-old mare, was third.
Hillexotic now has four wins in 12 seasonal starts, with 34 wins lifetime. The 8-year-old gelding by Muscle Hill is out of the Dream Vacation mare Exotic Destination. Owned by Greg Luther Racing and trained by Todd Luther, Hillexotic now has $1.54-million earned in his career.
It was the first Grand Circuit win in the 26-year-old Hanners’ career.
Named after Charlie Hill, the founder of Scioto Downs, the 2025 division marked the 11th year of the race. Homicide Hunter and Aaron Merriman won the fastest edition (1:50.3) back in 2018.
The 90-day 2025 Eldorado Scioto Downs race meet is down to the last week, running through Saturday, Sept. 13. Racing will be held Wednesday-Saturday with a first post of 5:45 p.m., except for Friday (Sept. 12) – a special late first post of 6:45 p.m. will help accommodate horsemen attending the Ohio Selected Yearling Sale. More information about racing at Scioto can be found on the Eldorado Scioto Downs website.
Watch Eldorado Scioto Downs race replays here.