Scioto: Two-year-old fillies battle in Ohio State Fair races

Two-year-old pacing and trotting fillies were in the spotlight on Thursday evening at Scioto Downs, racing in Ohio State Fair divisions.

In the first $67,000 split for the trotters, Rose Run Yolanda (Trevor Smith) went first-over out of seventh after the 27 3/5 opening quarter and made her way into second before the 58 1/5 half. Rose Run Yolanda and leader Swinging Senorita (Anthony MacDonald) would then duel through a 1:26 4/5 three-quarters, around the last turn, and into the stretch, but despite the extended uncovered grind, Rose Run Yolanda had the better kick when needed and defeated Swinging Senorita by a length and a half in 1:56 4/5. Waddupgee (Aaron Merriman) finished third.

Rose Run Yolanda is a Triumphant Caviar-Rose Run Keepsake filly trained by Todd Luther for owner Black Magic Racing LLC. Bred by Rose Run Farm, she was acquired for $50,000 at the 2021 Ohio Selected Jug Sale and has a record of 2-1-0 from three starts and has earned $63,500. She returned $5.40 to win as the 8-5 second choice.

The other $67,000 section for trotters saw Global Girl (Don Irvine Jr.) put panels of 27 3/5, 59 2/5, and 1:28 4/5 on the board, but she miscued on the last turn, handing the lead to pocket-sitter Truly Relentless (Chris Lems). Truly Relentless kept clear after that, tallying by two lengths over C S Irene (Tyler Smith) in 1:59. She's Loveable (Brett Miller) checked in third.

Steve Cross trains Truly Relentless, a daughter of Long Tom-Inner Drive bred by Marsh Valley Standardbreds, for owners Richard Gutnick, Tom Pontone, and Joe Lozito Jr. Truly Relentless, a $43,000 purchase at last year's Ohio Selected Jug Sale, has been victorious three times in her five outings, and she has now pocketed $112,875. She paid $2.80 to win as the 2-5 favorite.

Fear Of Sports (Tyler Smith) drove on two-wide after floating out from post four in the first $72,500 grouping for the pacers, and hit the front after the 27 3/5 opening quarter. From there, Fear Of Sports clicked off a 56 1/5 half and a 1:24 1/5 three-quarters, then sprinted home in 28 seconds to tally by 3 3/4 lengths in 1:52 1/5. Cruise Alert (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) was next, followed by Seaside Tina (Trevor Smith).

A daughter of Fear The Dragon-Sportin The Gold, Fear Of Sports is trained by Kelly O'Donnell for owner/breeder Emerald Highlands Farm. She has three wins and two seconds in five trips behind the gate, has now earned $74,125, and returned $2.60 to win as the 1-5 favorite.

► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter

Calgary (Wrenn Jr.) raced in sixth and seventh through stations of 26 4/5, 56 1/5, and 1:24 in the other $72,500 showdown for the pacers and went three-wide from third-over heading to three-quarters. Calgary then surged into the lead coming off the last turn and would kick away in the stretch to prevail by 2 1/2 lengths in 1:53 1/5. McSeaside (Tyler Smith) wound up first-over before three-quarters but wound up second, and Kassagi (Scott Cisco) held third after taking over the top spot in the second quarter.

The victorious Downbytheseaside-Sweetest Emotion filly is trained by Ryan Miller for owner Diamond Creek Racing. Diamond Creek Farm bred Calgary, who is three-for-four in the win column to go with a bankroll of $103,550. She was the 4-1 third choice and paid $10.80 to win.