Scioto: It's Academic gets top marks in Charlie Hill Memorial

The Grand Circuit season for open trotters began on Thursday night at Scioto Downs with the $135,000 Charlie Hill Memorial, and the race resulted in a Ron Burke-trained exacta as It's Academic led and kept clear from stablemate Mission Accepted in a 1:52 3/5 mile.

It's Academic and Yannick Gingras started from post two in the seven-horse field, and It's Academic went right to the front and led through opening-half fractions of 28 and 56 with Mission Accepted (Chris Page) following him from the pocket. Mission Accepted came to the outside before the 1:25 three-quarters, with Majestic Player A (Brett Miller) tracking that move from second-over, but It's Academic had plenty left in the tank off the well-rated pace, repelled Mission Accepted's advance, and went on to prevail by two lengths. Mission Accepted held off Majestic Player A for second, with Whata Swan (Trace Tetrick), Guardian Angel AS (Tim Tetrick), Pure Chance (Aaron Merriman), and Sky Castles (Dan Noble) rounding out the order.

"He was vicious last start at the Meadowlands. He won wrapped-up. I knew he was stepping up maybe in competition, but he was so good last week I had all the confidence in the world in him," remarked Gingras. "Obviously I liked the fractions. It played in my favor. When Chris came I figured we'd have a good run there between the two of us, but my horse just proved he's, right now, a little stronger.

"I drove him once early summer last year. I really liked him, and I'm lucky to get back behind him. He's just so beautiful to drive. He drives with two fingers. He can leave, you can do whatever you want with him. He's just a perfect horse to drive."

A 4-year-old son of Uncle Peter, It's Academic is owned by Brad Grant. It's Academic is now a 16-time winner from 31 career starts, and he has banked $560,688. The 2-1 second choice, It's Academic paid $6.00 to win.

On the undercard, Century Farroh (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.), 2020's Horse of the Year in Canada and the defending Breeders Crown Open Pace champion, finished second to Gold Digger King (Tyler Smith) in a $30,000 Open Pace. Century Farroh brushed to the lead coming to the half and turned for home first, but Gold Digger King slipped up the passing lane from the pocket to prevail by three-parts of a length in 1:52. Lane Of Stone (Jeff Nisonger) won the companion $30,000 Open Trot in 1:53 3/5.