Scioto: Ohio State Fair week concludes

Fresh off a hat trick in the Ohio State Fair races on Friday night, driver Aaron Merriman picked up two more victories as the event for Buckeye State-sired horses wrapped up with sophomore male pacers and trotters and 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings dueling on Saturday night at Eldorado Scioto Downs.

Merriman won the first $86,000 split for the rookie colt and gelding pacers with Clever Cody in 1:51 as he took the lead past the 26 4/5 opening quarter and went on to win by three lengths in 1:51 flat. A son of The Panderosa bred by Marvin Raber, Clever Cody is trained by Dr. Ian Moore for owner Clever Cody Stable. He's won three of his five starts so far and pocketed $99,800.

In the night's last $75,200 grouping for the 3-year-old males on the pacer, Merriman guided Dunkin' to a 1:50 4/5 victory from the pocket for owner/trainer Betty Clegg. A gelding by Pet Rock, Dunkin' was bred by Stonegate Standardbred Farms, has 19 lifetime victories, and he has now put away $182,606.

Driver Chris Page and trainer Ron Burke also polished off a successful week in the Ohio State Fair stakes by taking a $73,500 3-year-old colt and gelding trot with John Dutton as he moved to command beyond the 29 second opening quarter and held sway from there to tally by 2 3/4 lengths in 1:55. John Dutton, a What The Hill gelding, was bred by Kahrig Racing Stable and Nick Catalano, and has compiled a record of 9-3-3 from 20 appearances to go with a bankroll of $261,356. He is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC., Knox Services Inc., Johnny Yoder and Ras Racing LLC.

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Jet Hill (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) took the first $73,500 trotting tilt in 1:54 1/5 to improve his record to six-for-seven this season. Trained by Eddie Miller, the What The Hill gelding was bred by Martz Creek Farm and is owned by Serenity Racing Stables. He has earnings of $306,275.

Paris's Dragon (Dan Noble) broke his maiden in the second $86,000 2-year-old male pace, rallying out of the three-hole for a 1:51 1/5 win at odds of 15-1. Christi Noble trains the victorious gelding by Fear The Dragon who was bred by co-owner Dennis Owens. Norman Rae Racing LLC. shares ownership of Paris's Dragon, who has banked $63,000.

Completing Saturday night's Ohio State Fair victors was Burnout (Sam Widger), who posted a 1:49 2/5 triumph in his $74,500 sophomore colt and gelding pace. A Racing Hill gelding, Burnout was bred by Crawford Farms and is trained by Todd Luther for owner Greg Luther Racing. Burnout made his sixth appearance in the winner's circle and increased the money on his card to $187,265.