Scioto: Homicide Hunter sets track record in Charlie Hill Memorial

The complexion of the $200,000 Charlie Hill Memorial changed multiple times before the first turn as a pair of scratches and an early break by the favorite certainly played a role in the outcome. Those circumstances took nothing away from the sparkling performance by winner Homicide Hunter as he set a stakes and track record in the victory over the Scioto Downs surface on Saturday (June 9) evening.

With both Marion Marauder and Crazy Wow scratching before the race, seven horses were left to contest the Charlie Hill. The abbreviated field did nothing to stop the early action as I Know My Chip and Smalltownthrowdown hooked up heading to the first turn as the heavily-favored Will Take Charge, who is prone to miscues, made a break.

Smalltownthrowdown would wrestle the lead away past the opening quarter in 26 3/5 before a retake from I Know My Chip approaching the three-eighths marker. That move also signaled the start of activity for Homicide Hunter. Driver Aaron Merriman rushed the Chris Oakes trainee up on the rim and took control after the 54 2/5 half-mile clocking went on the board.

In Secret, who briefly followed Homicide Hunter’s cover, grinded his way into second passing three-quarters in 1:22 and held that spot behind a dominant Homicide Hunter in the record-setting 1:50 3/5 mile. Charmed Life saved ground and closed for third.

The winning mile posted by the Crawford Farms Racing 6-year-old was just one-fifth off the world record for geldings on a five-eighths mile track.

Homicide Hunter ($8.60 to win) has now earned $1,225,907 in his career.

Ohio Sire Stakes recap

The fractions were hot in the opening $50,000 Ohio Sire Stakes race for 3-year-old colts and geldings on the pace, and pocket-sitter Cinnamack took advantage, rolling up the pylons to win going away late in 1:50 4/5.

Cinnamack left hard with Bounding Dragon to make the front ahead of the opening quarter in 26 3/5 before yielding back to the pocket. 'Dragon' set sizzling fractions of 54 4/5 and 1:22 2/5, with just token pressure from the first-over Seeing Eye Single.

In the lane Cinnamack took the inside route and was too much for the used-up Bounding Dragon. Sectionline Bigry made a huge wide move on the final turn to be third while Seeing Eye Single held fourth.

For the Emerald Highlands Farm-owned Cinnamack ($6.00 to win) it was his fifth win in 11 career starts and equaled his lifetime-best. Brian Brown trains the son of McArdle.

In the second Sire Stakes split, Rockathon made the winning move passing the quarter and never looked back in a 1:51 1/5 score.

Parklane Official was first to the front but quickly gave way to the favored Slick Mick at the quarter in 27 2/5. Shortly after Rockathon came to call with driver Dan Noble and the race was basically over. The pair set fractions of 55 3/5 and 1:23 2/5 while on their own and never had an anxious moment as Slick Mick could not mount a charge from the pocket.

Jojos Pet Rock was a distant third.

Rockathon ($5.60 to win) is co-owned and trained by Kimberly Dailey for fellow owners Carl and Melanie Atley. The gelded son of Pet Rock has four seasonal wins in seven starts and increased his career earnings to $186,012 with the win.