Grove City, OH — Sugar Instead continued her dominance in the Ohio Sires Stakes as she cruised to victory at Eldorado Scioto Downs on Thursday (Aug. 24) in the first of two $55,000 divisions for two-year-old filly trotters.

Sugar Instead won by 5-1/2 lengths in a new lifetime mark of 1:56. Conrad photo.

In the first division, it was all Sugar Instead. Ronnie Gillespie took Sugar Instead to the lead and never looked back, winning by 5-1/2 lengths in a new lifetime mark of 1:56. The 1-9 favorite was never challenged as she covered fractions of :27.4, :59, and 1:27.4. Trained by Virgil Morgan Jr., the daughter of Volstead raised her earnings to $181,125 for owners Joyce McClelland and Larry Wills. Sugar Instead has won five of seven starts with two second-place finishes. All five wins have been in Ohio Sires Stakes. My Rory was second while Justasiam AS finished third.

It was a different story for Iam Independent in the second division. The Triumphant Caviar filly with Chris Page up sat fifth at the half-mile mark, 6-1/2 lengths behind the leaders. Iam Independent followed cover up the backstretch before making her move around the final turn. Iam Independent reeled in leader Roxanna at the top of the stretch and drew away to win by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:56.2. Trained by Ron Burke, Iam Independent won for the third time in seven starts, with two OSS scores. She raised her earnings to $100,500 for Burke Racing Stable, Hatfield Stables, Weaver Bruscemi, and Knox Services. Possibility finished second with Roxanna third.

Ohio Sires Stakes action resumes Friday (Aug. 25) at Eldorado Scioto Downs with the fifth leg for 2-year-old filly pacers and 3-year-old colt trotters.