Scioto: Bllack Hole, Yankee Boots knock off favorites in Ohio Sires Stakes

Bllack Hole and Yankee Boots were upset winners of the two $50,000 Ohio Sires Stakes splits for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers that took place on Saturday evening at Scioto Downs.

In the first section Smackitwithahammer (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) had command through fractions of 26 1/5, 54 3/5, and 1:21 4/5, but those hot fractions energized the closers. Bllack Hole (Tyler Smith), who had sat in the four-hole and then been shuffled back to last at three-quarters, suddenly emerged between foes late in the stretch, and he would get up to defeat a rallying-from-second-over Native's Sweetlou (Dan Noble) by a nose in a 1:50 4/5 mile. Seattle Hanover (Chris Page) had the pocket trip and came up the passing lane in the stretch for third.

A gelding by Mr Apples, Bllack Hole is trained by Clarence Foulk for owner L & L Stables. Bllack Hole now has a record of 5-1-0 from six starts, and he has earned $43,700. A 13-1 offering, he paid $29.00 to win.

Rock Candy (Wrenn Jr.) was the star attraction in the other flight as he was looking to go seven-for-seven to start 2019 and was the 1-9 choice. He clicked off fractions of 26 3/5, 56 4/5, and 1:24 2/5, while Yankee Boots (Noble), who had been left parked out and first-over, stayed game on the rim. Despite the easy middle-half and the fact his main rival had never seen the pylons, Rock Candy weakened in the lane and Yankee Boots remained strong and tenacious as he came on to win by a neck in 1:52 3/5. Gold Digger King (Kayne Kauffman) collected third.

Yankee Boots, a gelded son of Yankee Cruiser, is co-owned by trainer Steve Carter along with breeders Peggy Carter, Chuck Grubbs, and Joseph Whitacre. Yankee Boots is now a 14-time winner in his career, and he pushed his bankroll to $181,420. Sent off at 8-1, he returned $19.60 to win.