Columbus, OH — Colts finished off Ohio State Fair racing action Saturday (Aug. 6) at Eldorado Scioto Downs. There were two divisions each of the 2-year-old colt pace, 3-year-old colt pace and 3-year-old colt trot.

Paris’s Dragon broke his maiden in the $86,000 second division for 2-year-olds, winning in 1:51.1 for driver Dan and trainer Christi Noble.

Paris’s Dragon broke his maiden in the $86,000 second division for 2-year-olds, winning in 1:51.1. Conrad photo.

Paris’s Dragon was caught wide going into the first turn but settled in third while Who Dey Nation (Aaron Merriman) went to the front and set early fractions of :26.4 and :54.4. Brett Miller and Fear The Image popped the pocket just before the 1:23.1 third quarter with Noble following in pursuit. The duo battled to the wire with Paris’s Dragon coming out on top to win by a neck. Fear The Image was second with race favorite Midwind Beach Boy (Chris Page) getting up for third.

Paris’s Dragon, by Fear The Dragon, is a homebred for Dennis Owens and is co-owned by Norman Rae Racing. This was his first win in four starts and his earnings have ballooned to $63,000. The gelding went off at 15-1 and paid $32.60 to win.

The other $86,000 division was won by Clever Cody and Merriman in 1:51. The Dr. Ian Moore trainee was parked through the opening quarter of :26.4 and made the front. Clever Cody comfortably set fractions of :56 and 1:23.1 to win by three lengths over Janelle Granny (Nick Clegg) and High On The Hill (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.).

Clever Cody, by The Panderosa, now has three wins in five starts and $99,800 in earnings. The 1-5 race favorite, owned by Clever Cody Stable, paid $2.40 to win.

Todd Luther’s Burnout took the $74,500 first division for 3-year-old colt pacers in 1:49.2. Sam Widger took the Racing Hill gelding to the front to set fractions of :27 and :55.2. Challenged by Act Fast (Page) at the 1:22 three-quarters, he turned away the competition down the stretch to win by 2-1/4 lengths. Rockmelikeyameanit (Noble) got up for second with race favorite Act Fast finishing third.

Burnout is owned by Greg Luther Racing and has $105,100 earned on the year. The mile was a new lifetime best for the gelding who paid $8.80 to win.

The $75,200 second division was won by Dunkin’ in 1:50.4. Merriman sent the Pet Rock gelding to the front from post five and was three-wide for most of the first turn to hit the beam in :26.1. The Real Way (Page) set the rest of the fractions of :55.1 and 1:22.2. Dunkin’ came out of the pocket to win by a half-length over Dynamite Dylan (Miller); The Real Way was third.

Dunkin’ is owned and trained by Betty Clegg. He now has $134,870 earned in 29 seasonal starts, with eight consecutive victories. Dunkin’ was sent off at 2-1 and paid $6.60 to win.

What The Hill geldings took both divisions for 3-year-old colt trotters. Jet Hill won the $73,500 first division in 1:54.1. Wrenn sent him towards the lead from post six and was parked through the opening turn but settled in the pocket by the :28.1 quarter. Rumble Strips (Kayne Kauffman) hit the half in :57.4 and midway down the backstretch Jet Hill pulled to challenge. They hit the three-quarters together in 1:26 but Jet Hill confidently took the race by 1-1/4 lengths. Black Magic (Merriman) was second and Jogging Full Trot, parked the entire mile for Noble, was third.

Jet Hill is owned by Serenity Racing Stables and is trained by Ed Miller. The gelding has $153,150 in seasonal earnings. The race favorite went off at 2-5 and paid $2.80 to win.

The other $73,500 division of trotters was won by John Dutton in 1:55. Page settled John Dutton in third but pulled midway through the first turn to take over just after the :29 opening quarter. The pair set the rest of the fractions of :58.2 and 1:26.3. Bidenurtime (Hugh Beatty Jr.) came first up and finished second; Domovoy (Merriman) got up for third.

John Dutton is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Knox Services Inc, Johnny Yoder and RAS Racing. In 12 seasonal starts, he has seven wins and $131,541 in earnings. Sent off as the 1-9 favorite, John Dutton paid $2.20 to win.

Total purses for the three days of Ohio State Fair racing was $1.28 million. Horse racing was held at the Ohio State Fairgrounds from the late 1860s through 1984. In 1985, the State Fair Races moved to Scioto. The Ohio State Fair, at the Ohio Expo Center, concludes Sunday (Aug. 6).

Racing is held at Scioto Downs each Tuesday and Wednesday with a 3:15 p.m. first post and Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays with a 5:50 p.m. first post through Saturday (Sept. 16). Follow @SciotoRacing on Twitter for all the details of the 2023 racing season at Eldorado Scioto Downs.

More information about the entire Scioto Downs racing season, including race schedule, wagering menu, VIP room reservations and more can be found at www.SciotoDowns.com.