Scioto Downs: McArdle fillies headline Ohio Sires Stakes winners

Queen Of The Pride and Twinsburg gave sire McArdle a pair of victories as 2-year-old pacing fillies battled in four $40,000 Ohio Sires Stakes divisions on Friday night at Scioto Downs.

The last of the sections was the fastest as Queen Of The Pride (Tony Hall) led the way through panels of 28 2/5, 58, and 1:26 1/5 on her way to a 1:54 decision. She bettered Rose Run Uptowngal (Chris Page) by 2 3/4 lengths, with Sugar And Spite (Aaron Merriman) rounding out the top three at odds of 87-1.

Kevin Lare trains Queen Of The Pride for owner Frank Chick. A $62,000 Ohio Select Yearling Sale buy, Queen Of The Pride is now two-for-two in her career, and she has banked $26,500. She was bred by Bradley Wallace and is out of the Western Ideal mare Lionness Hanover (1:53, $21,280), making her a half-sister to Roaring To Go (Art Major, 1:50 4/5, $431,999). Queen Of The Pride was dispatched at 7-2 and paid $9.80 to win.

One split prior, Twinsburg (Anthony MacDonald) was victorious in 1:54 4/5. She took the lead away from Mach The Rock (Jeremy Smith) beyond the 28 1/5 first quarter, and after middle-half panels of 57 and 1:25 4/5, a 29 second final kicker got her to the wire a length and a quarter in front of a surging Pappy Rocks (Chris Lems). Mach The Rock held third.

Twinsburg, who was making her career debut after two baby races at Woodbine Mohawk Park, is trained by Jason McGinnis for owner Brock O'Brien. A $12,000 purchase at the Ohio Select Yearling Sale, Twinsburg was bred by Steve Stewart and John Carver and is out of the Life Sign mare Fastidious Hanover (1:54, $24,286), making Twinsburg a half-sister to Right Right (Cole Muffler, 1:52 4/5, $497,370). The even-money favorite, Twinsburg returned $4.20 to win.

All the way back in the first flight, which kicked off the card, it was Lofty Beach (Merriman) prevailing in 1:55. She popped out of the pocket past the 27 3/5 opening quarter to take the lead, battled with first-over foe Rylee Roo (Hall) through a 56 2/5 half and a 1:25 2/5 three-quarters, put that bid away, and held safe late, winning by half a length over an oncoming Mi Nina Bonita (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.). Pink Dragon (Dan Noble) was the third-place finisher.

From the first crop of Beachtrea, a full brother to Captaintreacherous, Lofty Beach is trained by Scott McEneny for owner Brad Grant. Lofty Beach also came in from Woodbine Mohawk Park, where she was the runner-up in two qualifiers. She was bred by Spring Haven Farm, brought $30,000 at the Ohio Select Yearling Sale, and is out of the Western Hanover mare Lofty Yankee, which makes Lofty Beach a half-sister to Shadow Moon (Shadow Play, 1:51 4/5, $165,449). The 4-5 favorite, Lofty beach paid $3.60 to win.

Completing the Ohio Sires Stakes winners for the night was Carmen Ohio (Ryan Stahl). She cleared to command passing the 27 2/5 opening quarter, and after being well-rated through a 57 3/5 half and a 1:26 3/5 three-quarters, she held off fellow Brian Brown trainee High Reward, winning by a length in 1:55 2/5. Bad Sammie (Page) took third.

A filly by The Panderosa, Carmen Ohio is owned by breeder Milt Leeman and partners Steve Manning, Brent Meizlish, and William Calvert. This was her second win in as many starts, and she has now earned $25,000. Carmen Ohio is out of the unraced Dragon Again mare Hufflepuff, a full sister to Gryffindor (1:50, $798,501) and a half-sister to two other six-figure earners. A 3-1 offering, Carmen Ohio returned $8.60 to win.