Scioto: Merriman pockets both of Saturday's Ohio Sires Stakes races

Driver Aaron Merriman steered Royal Precedent and Spaaaanzano to victories in two $55,000 Ohio Sires Stakes races for 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters on Saturday night at Eldorado Scioto Downs.

Royal Precedent was in the pocket at the 27 1/5 quarter in the first flight but moved around Deville Hill (Dan Noble) to take the lead past that marker. From there, Royal Precedent clicked off the half in 56 1/5 and the three-quarters in 1:26 2/5, then dug in to fend off a strong first-over bid by 69-1 shot You Dont Fool Me (Rosy Weaver) around the final bend and through the lane, defeating that foe by half a length in a 1:56 2/5 mile. Deville Hill ended up third.

A gelding by Creatine, Royal Precedent was bred by owner Claude Gendreau Stb Inc. and is trained by Sam Schillaci. Royal Precedent has five wins and a second from six efforts, has now banked $116,500 and returned $5.20 to win as the favorite.

Merriman's win with Spaaaanzano was accomplished in similar fashion. After chopping out the 28 3/5 quarter, Merriman yielded to a two-wide Rose Run Zoom (Don Irvine Jr.), but was right out and on the re-take, hitting the front again prior to the 58 1/5 half-mile station. The rsult wasn't in dispute after that as Spaaaanzano put three-quarters on the board in 1:27 4/5 and then drew off in a 28 3/5 last quarter, defeating Rose Run Zoom by 4 3/4 lengths in 1:56 2/5. Tennessee Tom (Chris Page) overcame an early miscue to get third.

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Trainer Chris Beaver also co-owns Spaaaanzano, a Timothy Stutzman-bred gelding by Coraggioso, with Spaaaartners, Bill Manes and Leo Fleming. One of the members of Spaaaartners is Tom Durkin, longtime voice of the Thoroughbred Triple Crown. Spaaaanzano has been victorious in all five of his appearances thus far, has put away $178,250 and paid $2.80 to win as the 2-5 favorite.