Scioto: Rookie trotters spotlighted in Ohio Sires Stakes

Ohio Sires Stakes action headlined the special Labor Day card at Eldorado Scioto Downs on Monday (September 2).

In the lone $100,000 division for 2-year-old filly trotters, Mocha Hill (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) was a nose winner over stablemate Rose Run Allison (Chris Page) in 1:56 1/5.

Up (Chris Lems) took the early lead, but Aunt Laura (Brett Miller) took over midway through the opening turn and crossed over as they reached the 29 second opening quarter. As the field straightened out down the stretch for the first time, Rose Run Allison quickly came up from fifth to take over by the 57 3/5 half. This left stablemate Brink Street (Eric Goodell) first-up with Mocha Hill second-over. When pocket-sitter Aunt Laura went off-stride just after the half, Brink Street settled in the two-hole, leaving Mocha Hill first-over. Rose Run Allison was still comfortably in the lead at the 1:27 1/5 three-quarters and around the last turn, but Mocha Hill continued to make progress on the rim. Rose Run Allison and Mocha Hill battled down to the wire, with Mocha Hill coming out on top.

Mocha Hill, by What The Hill and out of the Cantab Hall mare Socha Hanover, was a $47,000 Ohio Selected Yearling Sale purchase from breeder Franklin Equine. Trained by Ron Burke for owners Burke Racing, Hatfield Stables, Weaver Bruscemi and Knox Services, the filly now has five wins in six starts and $148,917 in earnings.

Battle Hill was a convincing gate-to-wire winner in the first $65,000 flight of the 2-year-old colt and gelding trot in 1:56 1/5. Pressured early from Whats Shakin (Ronnie Gillespie) at the 28 4/5 opening quarter, driver Chris Lems kept the lead through the 57 2/5 half and 1:26.3 three-quarters as Whats Shakin had room to drop into the pocket prior to the half-mile marker. Battle Hill opened up a big gap on the others in the backstretch and couldn't be caught from there as Lt Loverboy (Miller) came from the back of the pack to get up for second, with Whats Shakin third.

Battle Hill, by Marseille and out of the Kadabra mare Battle Mage, was a $65,000 Ohio Select Sale purchase from breeder Galliers Racing. Owned by William Hartt and trained by Matthew Burkholder, Battle Hill now has three wins in six starts and $84,200 in earnings.

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The other section for 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters was won by Hilltop Sonar and Page in 1:57 3/5. Leading gate-to- wire from post nine, Hilltop Sonar put up fractions of 29, 58 and 1:28 before kicking home in 29 3/5 to win by a length over Scrappys Love (Aaron Merriman); Oso Fast (Lems) was third.

Hilltop Sonar, by What The Hill and out of the Cantab Hall mare Mariah De Vie was a $6,000 Buckeye Classic Yearling Sale purchase from breeder Adrian Hochstetler. Trained by Ron Burke for Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi, Beasty and Rich Lombardo Racing, the gelding now has three wins in four starts and $88,500 in earnings.

The next live racing day at Scioto is Thursday, September 5. The Saturday (September 7) card features the $250,000 Jim Ewart Memorial Pace and the Charlie Hill Memorial Trot.

Post time for all remaining cards, except for Friday, September 13, is 5:45 p.m. (EDT). First post for the Friday the 13th card will be 6:45 p.m., to help accommodate horsemen attending the Ohio Selected Yearling Sale.

--edited press release (Scioto)--