Scioto: Track record effort by Heart Of Chewbacca

Ohio Sires Stakes standout Heart Of Chewbacca lowered the track record for a 3-year-old colt pacer at Scioto Downs to 1:48 4/5 in winning a $14,000 conditioned event on Saturday evening for driver Dan Noble and trainer Ron Burke.

Heart Of Chewbacca trailed in seventh through opening-half fractions of 26 3/5 and 54 4/5 set by Needham Hanover (Tony Hall), then vacated the cones to sit third-over as they raced in the backstretch for the final time. Noble fanned out Heart Of Chewbacca three-wide before Needham Hanover reached three-quarters in 1:21 4/5, and Heart Of Chewbacca was in full flight around the last turn, taking the lead before they turned for home.

After he swept the field, Heart Of Chewbacca got some separation and went on to win by a length and a quarter. Charlie May (Brett Miller), who beat Heart Of Chewbacca in last year's Ohio Sires Stakes Championship, was a good and gaining second after getting shuffled back on the inside in the middle-half, and The Wild Card (Josh Sutton) wound up third after a first-over try.

A colt by Bring On The Beach, Heart Of Chewbacca is owned by Dennis Owens and Norman Rae Racing LLC. This was Heart Of Chewbacca's ninth win from 12 career starts, and he has now earned $276,348. He paid $4.00 to win as the even-money favorite.

Both Heart Of Chewbacca and Charlie May are eligible to the MGM Grand Messenger at Yonkers, which has eliminations (if necessary) on June 25 and the final on July 2, and also to the Meadowlands Pace.