Grove City, OH — Ohohoh Im On Fire and Austin Hanners made it two in a row in the Jerry Knappenberger Series Thursday (May 15) at Eldorado Scioto Downs.
Ohohoh Im On Fire left out of post six and led at every call in taking the first division of the evening in 1:52.3, lowering his lifetime mark nearly a full second off last week’s win. The Catch The Fire colt was sold at the Ohio Selected Yearling Sale for $45,000 and has now earned $22,000 in six lifetime starts for owner Greg Luther Racing and trainer Todd Luther.
After finishing second last week to Ohohoh Im On Fire, South Sea and Chris Page came out on top in the third division by popping out three-wide around the last turn to take his maiden victory in 1:52.2. Settling in third after coming off the car from post three, South Sea patiently waited through nearly identical :27 and change first and third quarters to go past race leader Coalminers Racer (Austin Hanners) in the final strides. The Downbytheseaside gelding is trained by Beau Brown for owners David Wills and Robert Conley.
The stunning grey Mama Said Zip It took the second division in 1:52.4. Brett Miller drove Mama Said Zip It, who took the early lead through a quick :26.4 opening quarter. The duo settled in the pocket behind Outlawsandlegends (Dan Noble) who tripped the beam at every other call. Pulling at the top of the stretch, Mama Said Zip It won by 1-3/4 lengths to lower his lifetime mark taken last year at Delaware. By Racing Hill, the Marjorie Deshetsky owned, Mike Sweeney trained gelding now has $37,654 earned in 16 lifetime starts.
Southern Rockfest took the fourth division by screaming off the car from post eight. Luke Hanners took the gelding three-wide throughout the first turn to eventually take the lead at the :26.3 opening quarter. Southern Rockfest, by Pet Rock, won by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:53.1 for Brian Larrick who co-owns the gelding with trainer Bret Schwartz.
Down Two Party took the last division in 1:52.2 for trainer Virgil Morgan Jr. and owner Larry Wills. The Downbytheseaside gelding got away second and came up the inside to win by two lengths to capture his first pari-mutuel win after racing nearly exclusively on the fair circuit as a 2-year-old.
Racing continues Friday (May 16) with another 16-race card, including the first Ohio Sires Stakes action of the season. Twenty-eight 3-year-old filly pacers and trotters will face off in $65,000 divisions of the OHSS. Also on the card is the $25,000 Open Trot and Filly & Mare Open Pace, along with three divisions of the Kevin Greenfield series for non-winners of one colt trotters. The late Pick-5 on Thursday was not hit, so the early Pick-5, starting in race one Friday, will have a $2,372 carryover to start the pool.
More information about racing at Scioto can be found on the Eldorado Scioto Downs website.