Columbus, OH – Ohohoh Im On Fire made it 3-for-3 in the Jerry Knappenberger series at Eldorado Scioto Downs, winning the $30,000 final on Thursday (June 19) in 1:51.4.
Leaving from post two, Austin Hanners got Ohohoh Im On Fire straight to the top and never looked back – setting fractions of :26.2, :55.3 and 1:24.1. The Todd Luther trainee posted a :27.3 last quarter to win by a neck over Southern Rockfest (Luke Hanners). Spiritshappyending (Brett Miller) was third.
Ohohoh Im On Fire did not start at age 2 but now has four wins in nine starts this season with $50,250 in earnings. The Catch The Fire colt, who was a $45,000 purchase at the 2023 Ohio Selected Yearling Sale, is owned by Greg Luther Racing.
Four divisions of the Buckeye Stallion Series for 3-year-old trotting fillies were also held on Scioto’s Thursday card. There were four different drivers and four different trainers taking the $20,000 splits, with each winner sired by a different stallion.
Youthful Kemp (Aaron Merriman) took the first division in 1:54.3. Leaving from post nine, the What The Hill filly got away sixth at the :27.2 opening quarter and came first-up through the :56.2 half. By the 1:24.4 third-quarter Youthful Kemp made the top and coasted home to win by three lengths over pocket-sitter Sweet Rose’ (Chris Lems). Iwillmakeuproud As (Dan Noble) was third. Youthful Kemp, a $25,000 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale purchase, now has three wins in 12 lifetime starts for owner Robert Beachy and trainer Bill Rhoades.
Brink Street (Chris Page) got away eighth in the second division through the :28 opening quarter and :55.4 half. Going three-wide at the 1:25.3 third quarter, Brink Street made up huge ground to win by a length over Travel Nurse (Brett Miller). Spiritual Faith (Emanuel Miller) got up for third. Brink Street was a $40,000 Buckeye Classic Yearling Sale purchase who has now made $75,610 in 13 lifetime starts. The Long Tom filly is trained by Ron Burke for Burke Racing Stable, Hatfield Stables, Weaver Bruscemi, and Knox Services.
In The End (Noble) was a gate-to-winner winner when she took the third division in 1:55 for breeder/owner/trainer Anette Lorentzon. The Lionhunter filly now has four straight victories after posting fractions of :28, :57 and 1:25.3 to win comfortably by seven lengths over Wild Child Annie (Justin Irvine). Mona Lisa Hill (Lems) was third.
The final division was won by Pelican Hanover (Kurt Sugg) in 1:54.4. The Uncle Peter filly floated off the gate from post six and made the front by the first turn. Leading through the :28.3 quarter, Sugg let Dublins Dragonfly (Brett Miller) briefly take the lead coming under the wire for the first time but quickly took over by the :57.2 half. Fervor (Tyler Smith) made a hot bid going to the 1:26.2 third quarter but Pelican Hanover held her off to win by 2-3/4 lengths over Dublins Dragonfly. Fervor was third. Pelican Hanover, a $20,000 Standardbred Horse Sale purchase, is owned by Cool Cat Racing and Bob Troyer. Miles Wollam trains the four-time winner in 13 lifetime starts.
Racing continues Friday (June 20) with a 5:45 p.m. (EDT) first post. Sixteen races are headlined by five divisions of the Buckeye Stallion series for 3-year-old filly pacers.
The 90-day 2025 Eldorado Scioto Downs race meet runs through Saturday, Sept. 13. Races are held Tuesday-Saturday with a 5:45 p.m. first post. A special 3:15 p.m. post time will be on the Fourth of July and 6:45 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 12, to help accommodate horsemen attending the Ohio Selected Yearling Sale.
More information about racing at Scioto can be found on the Eldorado Scioto Downs website.