Scioto Downs: Mission Accepted speeds to track record in Ohio Sires Stakes

Mission Accepted stayed perfect in 2018 after turning in a 1:52 track record performance in the first of three $40,000 Ohio Sires Stakes contests for 3-year-old trotting colts on Friday evening at Scioto Downs.

Driven by Ryan Stahl, Mission Accepted was pocketed at the 27 4/5 opening quarter, then moved around leader Two O B Wonkenobi (Sam Widger) prior to the 56 1/5 half. Mission Accepted would go on to click off three-quarters in 1:24 1/5, and he scooted home in 27 4/5 to defeat Two O B Wonkenobi by two lengths. Get The Cash (Greg Grismore) was a well-beaten third.

The defending Ohio Sires Stakes champion for the division, Mission Accepted is trained by Jeff Conger, who also co-owns the Manofmanymissions colt with breeder Knox Services Inc. and David Wills. Mission Accepted, who is three-for-three in the win column in 2018, has won seven of his ten career efforts, and he has now earned $255,800. The 1-2 favorite, he paid $3.00 to win.

The next division saw Cordoba Hall (Ken Holliday) chop out opening-half stations of 27 1/5 and 57, but a first-up Uncle Buck (Aaron Merriman) forged his way by on the outside at the 1:25 2/5 three-quarters, and Uncle Buck would go on to score by a length and a quarter in 1:54 3/5. MVP Luke (Dan Noble) was the runner-up, followed by Secret Bro (Hugh Beatty).

Uncle Buck is a Stormin Normand gelding trained by Steve Bauder for owner Wayne Temple. Uncle Buck is now a five-time winner in his life, and he pushed his bankroll to $64,429. He was dispatched at 4-1 and returned $10.00 to win.

1-5 favorite Sultan Of Cash (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) was on top at the 28 2/5 first quarter and the 56 3/5 half in the final division, but he would get rough-gaited in the backstretch and be overhauled by first-up challenger Magic MVP (Grismore) heading to the 1:26 3/5 three-quarters.

Magic MVP opened up a gap on his rivals once he got in front, but came back to them in the lane, and Rising MVP (Chris Page), who had been in the pocket and then shuffled back to third on the rail, took advantage, slipping up the passing lane to win by a neck in 1:56 2/5. Manny L (Jeff Nisonger) surged on the far outside for second, and Sultan Of Cash wound up third after re-rallying and then getting rough-gaited again late in the mile.

William Daugherty Jr. trains Rising MVP, a gelding by My MVP, for owner Susan Daugherty. Rising MVP, the top 2-year-old trotting colt on the Ohio Fair Circuit last season, now has 10 lifetime triumphs, and he has put away $89,268. He was sent off at 7-1 and paid $16.40 to win.