Scioto: Power-packed Invitationals take the Friday spotlight

The Grand Circuit focus on Friday (August 19) will be on Scioto Downs as it presents a 15-race card that includes a pair of $100,000 Invitationals for older pacers. The headline attractions are perhaps Ohio native Charlie May in the #Senditin for the boys and certainly Test Of Faith in the Cleopatra for the ladies.

Coming off a spectacular 3-year-old campaign where he won the Milstein Memorial, Matron and Bluegrass while placing in many other stakes, much was expected of Charlie May in 2022. The son of McArdle started his stakes season off nicely with a second in the Graduate Series at the Meadowlands, a win in another leg (1:47 1/5) on June 25 and a good second behind Rockyroad Hanover in the July 2 Roll With Joe, but then hit a bit of a dry spell.

While Charlie May seemingly came up a flat fifth in the Graduate final, he was parked every step and paced the fastest mile of his life of 1:47 behind the 1:46 1/5 time posted by divisional leader Bulldog Hanover. That mile was followed up by an even more surprising sixth-place finish in an Invitational at Scioto when sent off as the 1-2 favorite.

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"He was really good at Northfield," said trainer Steve Carter, who will send out the Don Tiger-owned gelding from post seven with Brett Miller in the bike. "He's coming back into form. He was a little tried and maybe a little blah."

The tide did turn in Charlie May's last two starts, a 1:50 win at Scioto followed by a 1:49 3/5 victory on the half-mile at Northfield Park, though onlookers may have thought he was all-out judging by the amount of urging he received from Miller.

"When he clears to the front he thinks the race is over," said Carter in reference to the amount of whip urging in his Northfield win. "[Charlie May] takes care of himself because he knows he has to go back into battle the next week."

Charlie May (9-2 M/L) will face his toughest task in over a month on Friday when he'll meet up with Workin Ona Mystery (post four, 5-2) and recent Gerrity Memorial winner Tattoo Artist (post eight, 5-1). Carter realizes the waters are deeper this week but was far from worried.

"Absolutely," said Carter when questioned whether his horse was still a top older pacer. "We'll find out Friday night at Scioto. He has a bad post and there are some good ones in there.

"I think he'll be ready to give a [1:]48 mile. It will all depend on the pace in there."

With a post edge on both Charlie May and Tattoo Artist, Workin Ona Mystery should be heard from early and late in the #Senditin. He has picked up a good check in almost every major race he's attended and was third behind Bulldog Hanover and Rockyroad Hanover a week ago at Hoosier in the Dan Patch.

"It is tough to beat horses like Bulldog and Rockyroad," said Workin Ona Mystery's driver David Miller. "I think he is in a good spot and fits really well this week. Tattoo Artist is probably one of the ones we have to beat and he drew outside. I think it can work [Workin Ona Mystery's] way."

In addition to Charlie May, the hometown crowd will also have Ohio-owned-and-bred Gold Digger King (post one) and Heart Of Chewbacca (post two), as well as solely Ohio-owned Stonecold Bluechip (post nine) and Makin Some Noise (post 10) in the field to root for on Friday. Completing the 10-horse grouping is Red Right Hand (post three) shipping in from New York, and Goldie's Legacy (post five) and He'zzz A Wise Sky (post six) coming over from Indiana.

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If things work out as Miller expects he could be standing in the winner's circle after both the #Senditin and Cleopatra since he'll steer 5-2 morning-line favorite Test Of Faith in the latter. The defending Horse of the Year owns a number of stakes wins already in 2022 and has only finished worse than second once in 10 starts.

While the Brett Pelling trainee faces a good field on Friday, perhaps the biggest obstacle she'll need to overcome is post 10 in the second tier.

"The draw doesn't really play into it. She can handle whatever comes her way," said Miller, explaining the huge advantage it is driving a horse of Test of Faith's caliber. "Hopefully it works out where I can get her away in mid-pack and I can get her out in the flow."

Double millionaire Lyons Sentinel (7-2) should attract plenty of attention at the windows after finishing fourth from a bad spot in the Lady Liberty last time at the Meadowlands and winning the Clara Barton at Plainridge Park. Matt Kakaley will guide the filly from post four for trainer Jim King Jr. with regular driver Tim Tetrick at The Meadows for 2-year-old Pennsylvania Sire Stakes races.

Seven of the 10 mares in the field have earned over six figures this year and even some who haven't, like Grace Hill or Asante Sana A, are coming off victories last week.

In addition to the #Senditin and Cleopatra, races 12 and 13 respectively, the Scioto Friday card also includes four $55,000 divisions of the Ohio Sire Stakes for 2-year-old pacers of both sexes. First-race post-time is 3:15 P.M.