Scioto: Sugar Instead tops Friday's Ohio State Fair victors

Sugar Instead is now six-for-six in 2024 after a hard-fought 1:53 victory in the $139,000 Pride Of Ohio Trot for 3-year-old fillies on Friday evening at Eldorado Scioto Downs.

Driven by Brett Miller, Sugar Instead took the lead on the way to the 57 2/5 half and was able to repel a first-over attack from Jurassic Hattie (Kurt Sugg) to the 1:24 2/5 three-quarters and around the final bend. After putting Jurassic Hattie away for good late on the turn, Sugar Instead held sway to the wire, defeating Legacy Affair (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) by three-quarters of a length. Justasiam As (Tony Hall) was third.

A daughter of Volstead, Sugar instead was bred by Elmer Miller and is trained by Virgil Morgan Jr. for owners Joyce McClelland and Larry Wills. Sugar Instead has a summary of 13-2-1 from 17 appearances, has pocketed $550,925 and paid $2.60 to win as the 1-5 favorite.

Driver Chris Page and trainer Ron Burke teamed up for a trio of wins in other Ohio State Fair events on the card.

Page and Burke swept the Buckeye State Paces for 2-year-old colts and geldings, tallying in the first $85,700 section with Swingtown (by Downbytheseaside and bred by Steiner Stock Farm, paid $2.10 to win) in 1:50 4/5 for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Hatfield Stables, Knox Services Inc. and R A S Racing LLC. and in the second $85,000 flight with Rick Wink (by Bit Of A Legend N, bred by Larry Miller, paid $3.20 to win) in 1:52 1/5 for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., R A S Racing LLC., Knox Services Inc. and J&T Silva- Purnel & Libby. Swingtown and Rick Wink are both undefeated in four starts in their careers.

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Hilltop Sonar was the other Page/Burke horse to tally as he took the second $54,000 Ohio State Trot for rookie colts and geldings in 1:57. A What The Hill gelding bred by Adrian Hochstetler, Hilltop Sonar is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC., Weaver Bruscemi LLC., Beasty LLC. and Rich Lombardo Racing LLC. Hilltop Sonar, who won for the second time in three appearances, returned $2.20 to win.

What A Buckeye, another gelding by What The Hill, won the first $54,000 Ohio State Trot on the front-end in 1:57 2/5 for driver Dan Noble, trainer Herman Hagerman and owners Anthony Miller and Hagerman Racing. What A Buckeye, bred by Rachel Osborn and Thomas Adams, broke his maiden in his third chance and paid $6.20 to win.

Completing the Ohio State Trot victors was Battle Hill, who held sway on the engine in 1:56 2/5 for driver Chris Lems, trainer Matthew Burkholder and owner William Hartt. Battle Hill, who is by first-crop sire Marseille, was bred by Galliers Racing LLC., returned $10.60 to win and now has a record of 2-1-1 from four trips behind the gate.