by Anne Doolin, for Scioto Downs

Columbus, OH — The 2-year-old trotting filly Carly’s Crown kicked off the first of four nights of Ohio State Fair Stakes in rousing fashion, dominating the first race on Wednesday’s (August 1) card with an 11-3/4 length romp in 1:59 in her division of the $26,200 Ohio Fairs Trot.

The Ohio State Fair Stakes, for Ohio-bred 2- and 3-year-olds of both sexes and gaits, is worth a total of $675,000 and will be contested nightly through Saturday at Scioto Downs.

Carly’s Crown, a daughter of Corleone, was winning her third of four starts, with all three prior starts coming in Sires Stake action. Wednesday’s victory lowered her lifetime best by nearly two seconds. She’s owned by Jarbo Enterprises of Gadsden, Alabama, is trained by William Jarbo, and had regular pilot Chris Page aboard for the win.

Norma’s Rose, a Master Lavec filly, took the second division in 2:00.3 by 1-1/4 lengths for trainer Scott Cox and driver Aaron Merriman. It was the second win in four starts for Norma’s Rose, who is owned by Jack Tramonte of Wadsworth, Ohio. She also improved greatly on her lifemark, which was previously 2:04.3.

She’s Not Red had a 4-1/2 length margin of victory in the final freshman division, stopping the timer in 1:59.2 for her third win in four starts. Her lone miscue came in her last out at Raceway when she went offstride at the start. Ray Paver drove for trainer Scott Mogan, who co-owns the Emile Angus miss with Ron Anderson, Sandra Burns and William Johnson II. Like the other freshman winners, it was a new lifetime best.

The 3-year-old trotting fillies also went in three Pride of Ohio divisions on Wednesday. Beehomeontime scored a nose victory over E Pegasus in the first $22,850 division to post her third consecutive win for trainer and breeder James Mulinix, who co-owns with John Willis. James Dailey drove the daughter of Big Victory to the 1:57.2 win.

B V’s Sister, another daughter of Big Victory, kept her 2007 record perfect as she notched her fifth win of the year in the second division. Her time of 1:57.1 was a new lifetime best. Driver Brett Miller put her right on the lead and she won by 2-3/4 lengths for trainer Virgil Morgan, Jr. and owner Barnett Zimmerman LLC.

Winnie The Who took the final division by a length in a new best 1:57.2 with Bob Harper aboard for trainer Mickey Burke. The Emile Angus filly is now four for eight this season for owners Howard Taylor, Robert Feldman and Abraham Basen.