Scioto: Hot fractions, big upset by Ocean Rock in Jim Ewart Memorial

The Jim Ewart Memorial for open pacers is normally one of the wildest and woolliest stakes events on the entire calendar, and this year's $135,000 edition, which took place on Saturday night at Scioto Downs, was no exception, as a wild pace set up a rally from post nine starter and 18-1 shot Ocean Rock to get the victory in 1:49 1/5.

Noble floated away from the outside post with Ocean Rock and was able to tuck in neatly in sixth, right behind 9-5 favorite Nicholas Beach (Joe Bongiorno). Meanwhile, it was hairy up front as This Is The Plan (Chris Page) rocketed out from post three and parked Gold Digger King (Brett Miller) past a 25 2/5 opening quarter.

After Gold Digger King made front, he was immediately challenged by Workin Ona Mystery (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.). Workin Ona Mystery tried to clear Gold Digger King but was unable to and got parked to 52 3/5 half. Watching all this from second-over was Little Rocket Man (John De Long), and Nicholas Beach and Ocean Rock joined the two-wide group as well, sitting third-over and fourth-over, respectively.

As the field raced off the second turn, De Long sent Little Rocket Man three-wide and Bongiorno tipped out four-wide with Nicholas Beach, and they both went by the spent leaders after the 1:20 1/5 three-quarters. Little Rocket Man and Nicholas Beach then went at each other on the far turn, with Ocean Rock taking up the chase three-wide and Catch The Fire (Mike Wilder), who had been next-to-last, was on Ocean Rock's back.

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In the lane Nicholas Beach wore down Little Rocket Man for good and put him away, but there was a wall of horses coming, and Nicholas Beach was unable to withstand the surge of Ocean Rock, who got up to tally by a neck. Nicholas Beach wound up second, and a hard-luck Sectionline Bigry (Tyler Smith), who looked like he had pace but was blocked behind horses in the stretch, was third. This Is The Plan came up the passing lane for fourth, and Catch The Fire checked in fifth.

"When I was looking at the book, I was hoping I could fit right in the middle of the pack off the gate, and it worked out," said Noble. "Then things just got pretty crazy there. A lot of early speed, and it worked out real well there towards the end.

"It's taken this horse here a long time to grow up and mature and learn how to be a racehorse. He's doing it every year."

Christi Noble trains Ocean Rock, a 4-year-old Ohio-sired gelding by Rockin Amadeus, for owner/breeder Sandra Burnett. This was his 16th win from 32 career starts, and he has now pocketed $726,622. He returned $39.60 to win.