by Anne Doolin, for Scioto Downs

Columbus, OH — The 2-year-old pacing fillies and trotting colts were in the spotlight on Thursday (August 2) at Scioto Downs during the second of four nights of Ohio State Fair Stakes action. The Ohio-bred youngsters are vying for purse money worth $675,000 through Saturday night, with post time at 6:30 p.m. nightly. The State Fair Stakes races are also the first leg of the Ohio Triple Crown.

Perfect M Forever is almost that in her young career, as she won her sixth of eight outings in the first race of the night — one of three $27,800 divisions of the State Fair Managers Pace on Thursday.

The 2-year-old daughter of Stand Forever, driven by trainer Mark Winters (who co-owns with KSJ Stables), went right to the lead and stayed there, posting a comfortable 3-1/4 length score. Her 1:55.3 clocking shattered her previous best mark of 2:01.4. Perfect M Forever had been competing on the fair circuit of late, but handled the step up to stakes action with aplomb.

Freshman sire Yankee Cruiser’s amazing season continued as his daughter Cruzin Inya Jammys scored from slightly off the pace in a new best 1:56.4 in the second division. Sent off at 1-9, the Dan Ater trainee was winning her third of four lifetime starts. All three previous starts came in Ohio Sires Stakes action, and her lone loss was a head decision to Sand Feathers at Scioto two races back. Kyle Ater drove for owner Mark Wooten of Eagleville, Tennessee.

A Yankee Cruiser offspring accounted for the final division as well, as Medoland Kendall made a first-up move at the three-quarters to wear down another Yankee Cruiser, Corner Cruiser, on the wire. Medoland Kendall’s margin was a nose in 1:56.1 in her first victory in four starts. Brett Miller drove for trainer Mike Medors and owners Tamara Hoovler, Elizabeth Brandt, Patrick Medors and Carl Anders, Jr. Hoovler and Medors also bred the filly.

Freshman trotting colts went in four divisions of the Ohio State Trot, worth $21,200 or $21,900. Heavily-favored Rose Run Jeriah was first up for a long way, but prevailed in the first division by a length in a new best 1:58.3. It was the fifth win in six starts for the son of Corleone, who is trained by co-owner Ronald Randall. Linda Randall also owns and Sam “Chip” Noble drove. The youngster’s earnings are now nearing $50,000 in his young career.

Sunland Dakota, with David Myers aboard for owner/trainer Michael Sowers of McArthur, Ohio, overcame a miscue at the quarter to score by a length in his division. Another son of Corleone, this youngster has also been defeated just once. His 2:00.4 win marked his sixth victory in seven outings, and he was likewise heavily favored at the windows, going off at .30 on the dollar.

Merited Victory, a Victory Sam gelding, used the front end to his advantage to take the third split, scoring by a length in 1:59.4, blowing his previous best time of 2:08.3 to smithereens. Trainer Steve Carter was in the bike for owners Peggy Carter, Jacob Beard, Sheila Hummel and Robert B. Reid, all of Ohio. It was the third lifetime win for Merited Victory.

The final division went to the Pegasus Spur colt Taco Spur, with trainer Richard Stillings aboard for owner/breeder Roy D. Davis of Pittsburgh. Taco Spur took the lead before the half and drew off to a 5-3/4 length win — his second in five lifetime starts. He stopped the timer in 1:59, a tick better than his previous win at his home track of The Meadows.

Saturday night is the first-ever Cornhole Tournament at Scioto Downs. Conducted by the Cincinnati-based American Cornhole Organization, the event starts at 4:30 p.m. and will feature micro-tourneys and specialty tournaments. Cost is just $5 per player per tournament, with events for singles and doubles, and great prizes including betting vouchers, t-shirts, and more. Games continue through the evening until 9:00 or 9:30 p.m.