Scioto: Looking For Zelda turns in track record performance in Ohio Sires Stakes

Looking For Zelda and Non Smoker were the winners of a pair of $50,000 Ohio Sires Stakes divisions for sophomore trotting fillies on Friday evening at Scioto Downs, with Looking For Zelda turning in a 1:54 1/5 track record mile in her triumph.

Driven by Tony Hall, Looking For Zelda made front in a 27 second opening quarter, then was confronted by a parked-out Risky Deal (Crist Hershberger). Risky Deal got about one step from clearing Looking For Zelda at the 55 3/5 half, but Hall drove back on with his filly, leaving Risky Deal hung.

Dashanay (Chris Page) came three-wide off the cover to get within half a length of Looking For Zelda at the 1:24 3/5 three-quarters, but she kicked away on the far turn and opened up through the lane, reporting home 5 3/4 lengths to the good. Sesame (Aaron Merriman) was second, and Infrontandforgetit (Kayne Kauffman) was the third-place finisher.

Norm Parker trains Looking For Zelda, a daughter of Break The Bank K, for owner/breeder Robert Key. This was her tenth career victory, she boosted her earnings to $300,902, and she paid $2.60 to win as the 1-5 favorite.

In the other split Non Smoker (Dan Noble) made front from post two, took her five foes through fractions of 27 2/5, 56 1/5, and 1:24 3/5, and dug in through the lane to defeat a rallying Impinktoo (Kauffman) by a neck in a 1:55 1/5 mile. California Love (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) rushed from sixth and last to third at the wire.

Noble also trains Non Smoker, a filly by My MVP, for owner Norman Rae Racing LLC. She is now a six-time winner in her life, and she has pocketed $102,161. She was the 9-5 choice and returned $5.60 to win.