Scioto Downs: Queen Of The Pride, Only Take Cash headline Ohio State Fair winners

Rookie fillies on both gaits took center stage on Friday night at Scioto Downs, battling in Ohio State Fair action. The pacers were divided up into two splits, with the trotters going in three sections.

The fastest pacing winner was Queen Of The Pride (Tony Hall), who won their second $67,500 division in 1:52 4/5. Queen Of The Pride, starting from post two in the field of ten, showed the way through stations of 27 1/5, 55 4/5, and 1:24 3/5, then dug in when challenged in the lane by a first-up Rylee Roo (Aaron Merriman), holding sway by a nose. Final Offer (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) was the third-place finisher.

Kevin Lare trains Queen Of The Pride, a daughtr of McArdle, for owner Frank Chick. A $62,000 Ohio Select Yearling Sale buy, Queen Of The Pride is now four-for-four in her career, and she has banked $80,250. 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 the 1-2 favorite and paid $3.00 to win.

Leading the trot victors was Only Take Cash (Merriman), who bagged their final $44,100 test in 1:56 3/5. She was positioned fourth through opening-half panels of 29 and 58 4/5, then began a first-over move that carried her into the lead on the outside at the 1:27 2/5 three-quarters. Only Take Cash kicked clear from that point, going on to win by 2 1/2 lengths over See Me Sparkle (Jim Pantaleano). Feel Invincible As (Chris Page) came on to get third.

Only Take Cash, who is by Cash Hall, is trained by Bob McIntosh, who also owns the filly with partners Dave Boyle and Mardon Stables. Only Take Cash has a record of 3-1-0 from four trips behind the gate, and she has now pocketed $79,420. McIntosh and C S X Stables bred Only Take Cash, who is out of the Garland Lobell mare Armbro Affair (1:53 4/5, $430,997). Only Take Cash was the 1-5 public choice and returned $2.40 to win.

The other pacing section went to Dragon Again filly Rose Run Uptowngal in 1:54 3/5 for Page and trainer Ron Burke, while Vivi D (Kyle Ater/Dan Ater, 1:58 1/5), by Broadway Hall, and Spirit Bell (Ryan Stahl/Kent Sherman, 1:58 1/5), by Southwind Spirit, took the remaining two trot contests.