Scioto: Track record performance by Artful Dancer in Ohio Sires Stakes

It was a big night for the Ohio Sires Stakes program on Friday at Scioto Downs as a trio of $40,000 divisions for rookie pacing fillies and a pair of $50,000 splits for 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings took place.

The star of the night was Artful Dancer (Aaron Merriman), who won the second split for the young ladies in 1:52 2/5, a track record clocking. She cleared to the lead going to the 1:24 1/5 three-quarters and just held off a closing Looksgoodinaromper (Chris Page) to win by a nose, with Mcmarkle Sparkle (Brett Miller) third.

Artful Dancer, a Yankee Cruiser-Dancin Caroll filly, is trained by Steve Carter for owners Jay Mossbarger, Tammy Carter, Richard Lombardo, and Josh Green. Artful Dancer, whose dam is a Sportswriter half-sister to $1.9 million earner Dancin Yankee, has won both of her Ohio Sires Stakes appearances. She was a $32,000 Ohio Selected Yearling Sale buy and was bred by Midland Acres Inc., Daniel Drake, and Cynthia Drake. Artful Dancer paid $7.00 to win as the 5-2 second choice.

Ellagator (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) is also perfect in the Ohio Sires Stakes so far as she took over the lead past the first quarter and never relinquished it, winning the opening flight for the 2-year-old filly pacers by a neck over a closing Corner Pocket (Dan Noble). Arya Again (Ryan Stahl) was third.

A daughter of Western Vintage-Dame Truth, Ellagator is trained by Chris McGuire for owner Howard Taylor. Ellagator was bred by Nancy Johansson and went for $24,000 at last year's Lexington Selected Yearling Sale. She was the 1-9 favorite and returned $2.20 to win.

Merriman also guided Beautiful Beach to a 1:53 4/5 maiden-breaking victory in the final section for the freshman pacing fillies. Beautiful Beach was confronted by pocket-sitter Hoochie Girl (Chris Lems) through the final quarter, but repelled both her and a passing lane-rallying Odds On Athens (Peter Wrenn) to win by a length.

Tyler George trains Beautiful Beach, a daughter of We Will See-Beach Resort, for owner Tom Lehmann. Beautiful Beach, who was fifth in her last try at Northfield, was bred by Spring Haven Farm and Doug Millard and brought $6,500 at the Blooded Horse Sale. She paid $2.60 to win as the 1-5 favorite.

Pattis Main Man (Jeremy Smith) posted a 26-1 surprise in the first Ohio Sires Stakes dash for the sophomore trotting males as he powered into the lead from first-up in the lane and went on to win by a length and a quarter in 1:56 3/5. Homer Hall (B. Miller) was the runner-up, with Voyage To Paris (Kayne Kauffman) third.

The winner, a gelding by Manofmanymissions, is owned and trained by Mike Sowers. Pattis Main Man is now an eight-time winner, and he has put away $119,511. He returned $54.80 to win.

Lane Of Stone (Jeff Nisonger) popped pocket to take control past the 27 3/5 opening quarter in the other tilt for the trotters, and after middle-half panels of 56 3/5 and 1:25, he drew off in the final quarter, winning by 5 1/2 lengths in 1:54. Elo Hanover (B. Miller) was next, followed by Cash Hit (Lems).

Mark Winters Sr. trains Lane Of Stone, a Wishing Stone colt, for owner/breeder Harry Horowitz. Lane Of Stone now sports a record of 11-2-0 from 14 efforts, and he has pocketed $233,393. The 1-5 choice, he paid $2.60 to win.