from Scioto Downs Racino

Columbus, OH — If the first mile for the 2013 Scioto Downs Racino race meet was any indication, the season should be on fire.

That first race was a scorcher, with Ilikeitrealhot, a first time starter, stopping the clock in 1:52 on Wednesday (May 8). The colt by Real Desire is trained by Ron Potter and was driven under wraps by Jeff Nisonger.

That fast pace carried the track all the way through race number 11, with an all source handle increase of 40.1 percent compared to last year’s opening night (which was held on a Friday).

There were new faces at Scioto on the card; Tony Hall, Brad Hanners and Ronnie Wrenn, Jr. each had at least seven drives, while last year’s leading drivers, Kayne Kauffman, Dan Noble and Chris Page, all had at minimum ten calls to the gate.

Both Hall and Page ended the night with a hat trick.

The 11-horse field that was carded as race nine was scoring down when the sky opened and caused the track to quickly become sloppy. That race was the debut of the Super High Five, and some bettors were shut out trying to make a few bucks on the 10-cent bet.

Post 11 is the only post position that so far has a 100 percent win rate as Late For Work made his 101st lifetime start a winning one, stopping the timer in 1:55.4.