Scioto: Ohio State Fair contests in the books for this year

Ohio State Fair action concluded Saturday (August 1) at Eldorado Scioto Downs with nine divisions of 2-year-old pacers, 3-year-old pacers and 3-year-old trotters, along with the aged pace and aged trot, anchoring the 16-race card.

Buckeye State Pace - 2CP

After three qualifiers, Night Surfer (Luke Hanners) is now a perfect two-for-two in stakes action, winning his $82,620 division in 1:51. North Rim (Chris Page) took the early lead towards the 27 3/5 quarter but as the field slowed to the 57 2/5 half, Jett James (Brett Miller) came rolling up to take over. As Jett James posted a stout 1:23 4/5 three-quarters, Night Surfer was sitting third and powered down the stretch to win by a length over Jett James; North Rim was third.

Night Surfer, by Downbytheseaside and out of the Bettor's Delight mare Dark Force, was a $67,000 Ohio Selected Yearling Sale purchase from KAD Farms. Owned by Let It Ride Stables, Morrison Racing Stables and Steven Held, Night Surfer now has $78,810 earned in his two starts for trainer Virgil Morgan Jr.

The other division, going for $81,920, went to Don'ttruckwithme (Chris Lems) in 1:51 4/5. Sea Monster (Hanners) took the early lead towards the 26 1/5 opening quarter. Getting away fifth, Lems pulled Don'ttruckwithme going into the second turn as the field headed towards the 57 second half. After making the lead midway down the backstretch heading towards the the 1:24 2/5 three-quarters, Don'ttruckwithme drew clear to win by 2 1/2 lengths over Into The Blaze (Ronnie Gillespie); Atlantic Ivey (Atlee Bender) got up for third.

Don'ttruckwithme now has four wins in four lifetime starts with $190,960 earned for trainer Daren Harvey and owners Wayne Mast Jr., Eden Acres Farmstead and Kirk Nichols. By Catch The Fire and out of the Real Desire mare Age Of Consent, Don'ttruckwithme was a $37,000 purchase out of the Ohio Selected Yearling Sale from breeder Judy Roegner.

Governors Cup Trot - 3CT

Knob Creek Moni (Trevor Smith) led gate to wire to win the first of two $73,500 divisions in 1:53 3/5. The pair set fractions, virtually uncontested, of 27 2/5, 56 4/5 and 1:24 4/5 before coming home in 28 4/5 to win by a length and three-quarters over Deer In Range (Kurt Sugg); Rose Run Boom (Hanners) was third. Going off at 15-1, Knob Creek Moni paid $33.60 to win.

Knob Creek Moni, by Ready For Moni and out of the Muscle Hill mare Southwind Cruella, was an $11,000 Ohio Selected Yearling Sale purchase from breeder Midland Acres. The Kim Dailey-owned-and-trained gelding now has four wins in 22 lifetime starts with $125,176 earned.

► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter

Tom Largo continued his affinity to finish in the top two by winning the other division in 1:53 2/5. Soulful Saul (Hanners) took the early lead towards the 27 3/5 opening quarter, but Lems already had Tom Largo on the move. Quickly making the front, the duo set fractions of 56 3/5 and 1:24 4/5 before coasting home in 28 3/5 to win by five lengths. Special Moni (Page) was second and Grape Crush (David Miller) finished third.

Tom Largo, by Long Tom and out of the Valley Victor mare Smith Hall, was a $25,000 Ohio Selected Yearling Sale purchase from breeder Midland Acres. Owned by Jughead Stables, G Peters and Robert Kubiak, the gelding now has four wins and five seconds in nine seasonal starts and $305,900 earned lifetime.

Director of Agriculture Pace - 3CP

Marvin Luna and trainer Tony Alagna teamed up to win two of the three divisions of the 3-year-old colt pace - Myboypank (1:50 3/5) and Up In Place (1:51 3/5).

Myboypank went straight to the top from post seven, setting fractions of 26 2/5, 55 and 1:22 3/5 on his way to victory, winning by three-quarters of a length over Fire Run (Bender); Heerz Corinthian (Cam McCown) was third.

Bred by Martz Creek Farm, the Catch The Fire gelding out of the Western Terror mare Bazooka Terror was a $20,000 Ohio Selected Yearling Sale purchase. Owned by Sam Bowie, Myboypank has eight wins in 13 lifetime starts and $136,017 in earnings.

Up In Place got away seventh as Backninebar (Page) set opening fractions of 26 3/5 and 56 1/5. The outer flow developed with Swelce (D. Miller) first-up and Up In Place getting the tow towards the 1:23 1/5 three-quarters. Up In Place fanned three-wide coming off the turn to get up to win by a length over Swelce; Caillou Hanover (Bender) was third.

Up In Place, by Lather Up and out of the Park Place mare Helen's Place, was a $22,000 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale purchase. John Barnard and Alagna Racing own the colt, who is a perfect six-for-six on the season with $181,022 in lifetime earnings.

The third division was won by Odds On RPJ (Hanners), also in 1:51 3/5. Getting away third while Tsunami Seas (D. Miller) set fractions of 26 2/5 and 56 seconds, Hanners pulled Odds On RPJ mid-way down the backside. After hitting the three-quarters in 1:24, Odds On RPJ came home in 26 3/5 to win by a quarter-length over Pet Project (Smith); Tsunami Seas held on for third.

Odds On RPJ, by Downbytheseaside and out of the Rock N Roll Heaven mare Odds On Ashley, is owned by Odds On Racing and trained by Virgil Morgan Jr. The gelding now has six wins in 13 lifetime starts and $90,457 in earnings.

Aged Ohio State Fair Races

Battle Hill (D. Miller) was much the best in the $65,000 Jim Buchy Trot, winning by six lengths in 1:53.1. Initially getting away third as Yanks Dugout (Austin Hanners) got to the quarter in 27 1/5, Miller pulled Battle Hill to the lead towards the 56 3/5 half and 1:24 2/5 three-quarters. Yanks Dugout was second with Caviar Gold (Lems) getting up for third.

Matthew Burkholder trains the 4-year-old gelded son of Marseille for William Hartt. It was the 16th lifetime win for Battle Hill, who now has $513,230 in earnings.

Harrisburg Heist (Page) won gate-to-wire in the $65,000 Robert Schmitz Pace in 1:49 4/5. Setting fractions of 26 4/5, 55 4/5 and 1:22 4/5, Harrisburg Heist held off a strong bid from pocket sitter For Once Inmy Life (B. Miller); Rose Run Zane (Tyler Smith) was third.

By Downbytheseaside and out of the Western Ideal mare Cashaway, the Ron Burke trainee is owned by Burke Racing, Knox Services, Phil Collura and Weaver Bruscemi. It was the 20th win in 41 lifetime starts for the 4-year-old gelding, who now has $791,702 in earnings.

--press release (Scioto)--