from Scioto Downs Racino

Columbus, OH — The 2-year-old colts and fillies shined in Ohio State Fair Stakes action on Friday night (Aug. 1) at Scioto Downs.

Conrad photo

Sunrise Nibbles scored in a new lifetime best of 1:59.4.

The flawless filly trotter Sunrise Nibbles remained perfect after taking her $34,000 division in a new lifetime best of 1:59.4. The Iron Duke-Sweethomeourbama filly is trained by Chris Beaver who partially owns with Synerco Ventures, Steven Zeehandelar and Dave Lang.

Sunrise Nibbles started from post one in the field of seven and leading Scioto Downs driver Chris Page was in her sulky. The pair fired out for command and never looked back. She won by a margin of 1-3/4 lengths. Sammy Star was second best and Student Of Life was a late charging third.

The 2-year old colt trotters Neely’s Messenger and Kick A Lot dominated in their respective divisions.

Kick A Lot is a gelded son of Deep Chip out of Mac’s Dream. Regular driver Kurt Sugg had the lines for trainer Jeff Cox and breeder and owner Pius Soehnlen. The pair wired the field in a new career best of 1:59.2 by 6-1/2 lengths. Chips Starr and Kayne Kauffman were second and Really Deep Chip for Greg Grismore were third. The purse for the race was $48,500.

Neely’s Messenger, for trainer and driver Marty Wollam, cruised to a 7-3/4 victory in 1:58.3 in their $49,200 contest. He’s a son of Neely Dunn out of Fun Message for owners Dale and Julie Sweet. Super Sheff Frosty grabbed the place money and Ohio Chipster completed the trifecta.

The 2-year pacing filly Bell Flower continued her winning ways, taking her $49,500 division of the Ohio State Fair Stakes in 1:55.2. She’s a daughter of Fly Fly Buckeye out of Our Lady Countess. She recently moved into the Jim Arledge Jr. stable for new owners Bruce and Patricia Soulsby.

The dominating filly started from post six in the field of eight for driver Chris Page. They pushed the gate away and Page was determined to set the fractions with the 1-2 favorite. There was never an anxious moment. The filly cruised to a 1-1/2 length victory over a game Friskie Lil Devil and Ronnie Wrenn Jr. Zoey’s Lemon Tart and Aaron Merriman were third.

Gray Camo sets a new lifetime best of 1:54.4 in his $48,000 division of State Fair Stakes for freshman colt pacers. The perfect son of Pine Valley out of CG’s Gem is trained by Ron Burke and was driven by Chris Page.

Page worked out a perfect pocket trip and was able to get up in time by a mere neck over Nobles Finesse. Ollie Pop rallied for the show spot.

The 3-year olds take center stage on Saturday (Aug. 2) and first race post time is 6:30 p.m.