Columbus, OH — It may have been a compact field of six, but Saturday’s (July 27) $27,000 Open Pace at Eldorado Scioto Downs did not disappoint. Seafire and Beau Brown came flying down the stretch on the far outside to win in 1:48.4.
It was a calvary charge at the start with half the field vying for position, going three-wide until midway through the first turn. Stars Align A (Dan Noble) protected the rail, with Charlie May (Eric Goodell) parked from the four-hole and Chase H Hanover (Luke Hanners) on the far outside from post five. Chase H Hanover made the front by the :25.2 opening quarter and got down to the pylons as the field straightened out in the stretch for the first time.
Santana Hanover (Josh Sutton) pulled from sixth and flushed out Stars Align A as the field went to the :54.1 half. Heading down the backside, the field was three in and three out. By the time Chase H Hanover tripped the beam at the three-quarters in 1:21, Santana Hanover was three-wide with Seafire tipping four-wide. The hard charging Seafire came home in :27 to win by 1-3/4 lengths.
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In a four-horse blanket finish for minor spoils, Charlie May came out on top to finish second and Santana Hanover was third.
Seafire, a 4-year-old stallion by Downbytheseaside out of the Towner’s Big Guy mare Wildfire Princess, is trained by Brian Brown for owners Country Club Acres, Joelyn Ridder, Mark Kantrowitz and Scott Davis. Enos Weaver bred the nine-time winner, who now has $161,460 earned in 17 lifetime starts.
Ohio State Fair racing comes to Scioto next week, with 2-year-old fillies taking center stage on Thursday (Aug. 1), 2-year-old colts and the 3-year-old filly trot racing on Friday (Aug. 2), and Saturday’s (Aug. 3) races including the 3-year-old pacers and the 3-year-old colt trotters. Scioto is partnering with the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association to provide a free horseshoe decorating center on Friday and Saturday from 5:30-8 p.m. next to the program stand. On Saturday, there will be a bounce house, petting zoo and food trucks.
The 90-day 2024 Eldorado Scioto Downs race meet runs through Sept. 14. Races are held Tuesday-Saturday with a first post of 5:45 p.m. each day, except for Sept. 13, which will have a 6:15 p.m. post. More information about racing at Scioto can be found on the Eldorado Scioto Downs website.