by Jason Zielinski, Publicity and Marketing Director, Scioto Downs

Columbus, OH– Scioto Downs welcomed Ohio Sires Stake action for the second straight day as two-year-old colt trotters and three-year-old colt pacers invaded the grounds during the Independence Day matinee card.

In the second race, Ima Chaser and Martin Wollam visited the winner’s circle in 2:02 for owners M. Vukovich Jr., J. R. Shaw and P. J. Wollam.

“I should have went outside with him instead of inside,” added Wollam. “He’s kind of a headstrong colt, but he’s nonetheless a really nice one.” The move paid off for Wollam though as the two-year-old by Sand Chaser won for the first time in two starts on the season. Mighty Lavec and Brett Miller finished a neck behind for second as the Wollam trainee returned $16.60, 5.00 and 3.40 on the win.

After three wins in last night’s OSS action, Chip Noble was looking to repeat the feat today, and he got off to a great start in the fourth, taking Haste to the winner’s circle in 2:00 4/5 for the two-year-old colt trotter’s first win of the season. “I didn’t expect him to go like that,” added Noble. “He got a little tired in the end, but raced really well overall.” Owned and trained by Mark Winters, Haste started out of the eight hole, but grabbed the lead after the quarter and never looked back, scoring an impressive 9 ½ length victory over Rail Dancer and William Irvine in the process. Laugh Master and Dan Ross rounded out the top three as the win by Haste returned $14.00, 5.80 and 4.60 at the windows.

Noble came right back in the fifth, taking a division of two-year-old colt trotters aboard John Stevenson. The Billy Crane trainee started out of the second post position, and stayed there until the top of the stretch, coming to the front and crossing the wire first in 2:02 to edge out Slick Lavick by a half-length. The first win in two starts on the season for the Thirty Two colt owned by James and Billy Crane returned $6.60, 4.20 and 4.20. Doitlikemydad and Charles Peter rounded out the top three.

Hesadoozy and driver Randy Tharps looked every bit of impressive in the sixth, taking a division of three-year-old colt pacers in 1:55 for trainer Ron Potter. The three-year-old Nobleland Sam gelding, owned by F. T. F. Inc., paced the final quarter in a speedy :29 to edge out Ruff Door and Aaron Merriman by 1 ½ lengths. The third win in nine starts on the season helped Hesadoozy climb over the $45,000 mark in lifetime earnings.

Garbanzo and Tony Hall combined to stop the timer first in 2:01 3/5 in the seventh for two-year-old colt trotters. After drawing the two hole, the Roy Brown trainee stayed there until the three-quarters mark, making his move at the outside and grabbing the lead in the last quarter. From there, Garbanzo poured it on, coming home in :31 1/5 to edge out Lincoln Lavec and driver Dan Ross by a nose. The win by the Windswept Balance colt owned by William Rhoades was the second in three starts on the year, and returned a lofty $39.40, 11.60 and 4.80 at the windows. Driver Tony Hall went on to add, “Just a real game effort by this colt. He was strong the entire mile first up.”

In the eighth, a division of three-year-old pacing colts, Doctor Rodney and driver Greg Grsimore had just what the doctor ordered, coming from the outside at the half and grabbing the lead at the three-quarter mark en route to a 1:53 2/5 mile, and an Ohio Sires Stake victory in the process. The Mike Weller trained colt by Doctor of Style owned by Ellacott Shaker Mtrs. Inc. looked strong in his ninth start of the season. “He just went a huge mile,” added Grismore. “This horse just keeps getting better and better every week.” The fourth win of the year for Doctor Rodney returned $3.40, 2.40 and 2.40 at the windows, with Otto Lotto and Brett Miller falling short for second, 3 ¾ lengths behind.

“It’s better to be lucky than good sometimes,” added driver Brett Miller after he took Pansonance to the winner’s circle in gate to wire fashion in a division of three-year-old pacing colts. The post time favorite drew the rail, and stayed there, “much easier” added Miller after the number five horse, Steam the Windows made a break early on in the race. From there, Miller and company held off a valiant effort by Up Front Ohio and Greg Grismore, who eventually fell short by ¾ of a length after pacing the final quarter in :28 3/5. The seventh win in eight starts on the season by Pansonance trained by Virgil Morgan Jr., and out of the ownership of the Peter Pan Stables Inc., helped push the Broadway Jate colt’s lifetime earnings over the $50,000 mark, and returned $3.80, 3.00 and 2.80 at the windows.

Funtime Rocknroll and driver Randy Tharps closed out the Ohio Sires Stakes action on the holiday card with a win in the tenth race for three-year-old pacing colts. Starting out of the number four post position for trainer Ron Potter and the ownership of F.T.F. Inc., the Stand Forever colt was looking for his first win on the season in seven starts after back to back second place showings the previous two weeks. After coming to the front at the half, and eventually pacing the final quarter in :29 3/5, Funtime Rocknroll notched that first win, holding off Coal Black Beauty and driver Todd Jones by 3 ¾ lengths. The 1:54 4/5 mile was the fastest mark of the three-year-old’s career, and helped push his career earnings over the $15,000 mark.