Scioto: Track record set, then matched in Ohio Sires Stakes

Sophomore fillies on both gaits were in action in the Ohio Sires Stakes on Friday at Scioto Downs, but it would be trotters Back Splash and Refined who stole the show as first Back Splash broke the track record for the group with a 1:54 effort, and then Refined equaled it.

Back Splash (Aaron Merriman) led a one-two finish for trainer Chris Beaver in the first $50,000 section. Positioned third through opening-half fractions of 27 and 55 4/5, she moved to the point going to the 1:24 1/5 three-quarters and held sway from there, winning by a length and a half over stablemate Pure Chance (Jason Thompson). Aunt Percilla (Dan Noble) checked in third.

It was the fourth career win for Back Splash, a daughter of Triumphant Caviar also co-owned by Beaver along with Donald Robinson, Steven Zeehandelar, and RBH Ventures Inc. Sent off at 9-2, she paid $11.20 to win.

Refined (Brett Miller), making her second start for trainer Virgil Morgan Jr., posted a 33-1 upset in the other $50,000 grouping and took her share of the track standard. Away fifth from the rail, she ended up with a second-over trip behind favored Only Take Cash (Merriman) heading to the 1:24 4/5 three-quarters, then out-footed the public's choice through the lane to win by three-parts of a length. Beaver-trained Aunt Rose (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) got third.

A filly by Uncle Peter, Refined is owned by Winstar Farm. She made her fourth appearance in the winner's circle, and she returned $69.80 to win.

The track record for a 3-year-old pacing filly also was just missed by a fifth of a second when Frank Chick-owned and Kevin Lare-trained Queen Of The Pride (Tony Hall) went a 1:51 1/5 mile in their opening $50,000 test. The daughter of McArdle, who is now an 11-time winner, defeated Rylee Roo (Merriman) by 2 1/4 lengths, with Rose Run Uptowngal (Chris Page) third. The 3-5 favorite, Queen Of The Pride paid $3.20 to win.

In the other $50,000 Ohio Sires Stakes showdown for the pacers, Snobbytown (Page) followed Giggles In Dreams (Shawn Barker II) through fractions of 26 2/5, 56, and 1:25, pulled to the outside in the lane, and just got up for the win by a nose in 1:53. Avaline Hanover (B. Miller) came in third.

Snobbytown is a Nob Hill High filly trained by Ron Burke for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Weaver Bruscemi LLC., and Jason Melillo. Making her first start of 2019, she now has six career victories, and she returned $7.00 to win as the 5-2 second choice.