Scioto: Sugar Instead is sweet again in Ohio Sires Stakes

Sugar Instead improved to four-for-four in the Ohio Sires Stakes program this year by taking the first of two $55,000 tussles for 2-year-old trotting fillies on Thursday at Eldorado Scioto Downs. Roxanna was victorious in the other section.

Driven by Ronnie Gillespie, Sugar Instead led through fractions of 28, 57 3/5 and 1:27 1/5, then used a 29 1/5 final quarter to keep a passing lane bid by pocket-sitter Possibility (Aaron Merriman) at bay through the stretch, prevailing by half a length in 1:56 2/5. She's Spicy (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) finished in third.

A daughter of Volstead bred by Elmer Miller, Sugar Instead is trained by Virgil Morgan Jr. for owners Joyce McClelland and Larry Wills. She has pocketed $153,625 to go with her four triumphs and two runner-up finishes in six outings and paid $3.20 to win as the 3-5 favorite.

17-1 shot Chulita (Dan Noble) was in command at the 28 second opening quarter, the 58 2/5 half and the 1:27 3/5 three-quarters in the second division but made a break late on the final bend, which also bothered and knocked pocket-sitter Legacy Affair (Kurt Sugg) off-stride. Taking advantage was Roxanna (Merriman), who vaulted into the lead in the lane from second-over and then staved off Hot Tea (Tyler Smith), who had tracked her from third-over, to score by half a length in 1:57 2/5. Ourmomentntime (Brett Miller) advanced from seventh to third in the last quarter.

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Trainer Chris Beaver also co-owns Roxanna, a What The Hill filly, with breeder Sandra Burnett. Roxanna has a summary of 3-0-1 from five efforts, has earned $86,100 and returned $11.80 to win as a 9-2 offering.