by Jason Zielinski, Publicity and Marketing Director, Scioto Downs

Columbus, OH — The annual Ohio State Fair Stakes invaded Scioto Downs Wednesday night as two and three-year-old filly trotters battled it out for bragging rights in the Buckeye State.

In the first division of the Ohio Fairs Trot for two-year-olds, Steph’s Looker and driver Jim Dailey started the week off in fine fashion, stopping the timer in 2:02³ to score a half length victory over Mrs Sizzle. Honey Leone and driver William Irvine rounded out the top three.

After sitting second the majority of the mile, the Ilooklikemymom filly owned by Johanna Beaver and William Otstot made her move down “power alley” to score her second win in five starts on the season. The win by the Charles Beaver-trainee returned $16.00, 7.00 and 4.00 at the windows.

In the first division of the Pride of Ohio Trot for three-year-olds, That Fly’n Angel helped Jim Dailey grab an Ohio State Fair Stakes driving double as the two combined to score the one and a half length victory in 1:57.

Starting out of the three hole for owners Dale Leu and Jim Mulinix, the Striking Sahbra filly quickly jumped out to the front heading into the quarter and never looked back, holding off Belle Legrand and Brett Miller en route to her second win in 10 starts on the season. Also trained by Mulinix, That Fly’n Angel recorded a new lifetime best mark in the process and pushed her career earnings over the $34,000 mark.

The second division of the Ohio Fairs Trot saw Whootookwhat steal the show, trotting the mile in gate-to-wire fashion for owners William and Barbara Paull.

After drawing the rail, the Inquirer filly looked very impressive, cutting fractions of :29³, 1:01⁴ and 1:31⁴ before crossing the wire in 2:02, helping driver Jim Dailey record the driving triple in Ohio State Fair Stakes action. China’s Lavec and driver Brett Miller gave chase the entire mile, but fell short by a nose at the wire as the Jim Dailey-trainee remained undefeated on the season at five for five. Queen Of Fortune and driver Hugh Beatty finished three and a half lengths back in third.

Driver Bob Harper guided I’m Justa Lady to the winner’s circle in 1:59 to take the second division of the Pride of Ohio Trot.

The three-year-old Inquirer filly owned by Theodore Black left little doubt as to the outcome of the race, trotting the mile in gate-to-wire fashion for 80-year-old trainer Robert Brown. Big Surfer and Brett Miller finished strong, but fell short by three and a quarter lengths, as the seventh win in 18 starts on the season for I’m Justa Lady returned $5.80, 5.40 and 3.60 at the windows.

In the third division of the Ohio Fairs Trot, Autumn Lavec and Del S. Miller grabbed an Ohio State Fair Stakes trophy as the duo combined to stop the timer in 2:02² after Rose Run Gold Rush and driver Brett Miller were disqualified and placed second for making a break through the finish.

The Master Lavec filly, owned by Greg Buckey and Thomas York, Jr., finished strong, trotting the final quarter in :30¹ to score her second win in five starts on the season for trainer Jim Arledge, Jr.

Tady Strikes Again did just that in the third division of the Pride of Ohio Trot as Scioto Downs’ leading driver Brett Miller guided the Striking Sahbra filly over the wire first in 1:58² for the ownership of Barnett Zimmerman LLC.

After drawing the outside rail for trainer Virgil Morgan, Jr., Miller and company found themselves parked out three wide heading towards the half. From there, Miller asked for more out of the filly and he got it as she trotted the final quarter in :28³ to score a four and three-quarter length victory over Striking Elegance and driver Kenny Kidd.

The third win in five starts on the year returned $3.80, 2.80 and 2.40 at the windows.

Driver Jim Dailey capped off an impressive night in the fourth division of the Ohio Fairs Trot, taking I Look Special to the winner’s circle in 2:03¹, scoring his fourth win in Ohio State Fair Stakes action on the night.

The Ilooklikemymom filly, owned by Ohio Harness Racing Hall of Fame member Robert Sidley, used a final quarter posting of :31² to edge out No Nonsense Sarah and driver Dave Hawk by a neck at the wire. Carry A Thirty Two and Bill Long, Jr. looked strong, but fell short by a length for third.

Trained by Mike Medors, the Ohio-bred picked up her first win in five starts on the season and returned $16.00, 5.60 and 3.20 on the win.