Scioto: Two-year-olds strut their stuff in The Next Generation events

Two-year-old Ohio-sired pacers and trotters met up at Scioto Downs on Monday to tangle in The Next Generation, sponsored by Preferred Equine. Each race carried a purse of $150,000.

Act Fast won the colt and gelding pace with a breathtaking rally from off-the-pace in the final quarter. Driven by Chris Page, Act Fast got away in seventh and remained in that position through fractions of 27 1/5, 55 1/5, and 1:23 3/5. Meanwhile, Rockmelikeyameanit (Dan Noble) tipped out of the pocket going to three-quarters, took command past that marker, and opened up a gap on the others on the last turn.

Page had Act Fast positioned in a dull cover flow third-over and had to send him four-wide on the last turn, but despite not having the ideal journey and Rockmelikeyameanit owning a big jump on him, Act Fast powered home in the lane and got up in time to defeat Rockmelikeyameanit by half a length, clocking his final quarter in 27 2/5 in a 1:52 mile. Burnout (Trevor Smith) was third.

Ron Burke trains Act Fast, a Downbytheseaside colt bred by Fred Hertrich III, for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Knox Services Inc., Rich Lombardo Racing LLC., and Beasty LLC. Act Fast, who was purchased for $125,000 at the 2021 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, was making his career debut after finishing second and first in two qualifiers at The Meadows and paid $5.20 to win as the second choice.

A couple races earlier, My Red Sea had also charged off cover to take the filly pace. Driven by trainer Kayne Kauffman, she landed in fifth and watched as first Lofty Treasure (Brett Miller) and then Honey Buzz (Tyler Smith) clocked stations of 27 2/5, 56, and 1:23 4/5. My Red Sea joined the two-wide group third-over past the half, went four-wide on the final bend, and had the best kick in the stretch, surging to a one length victory in 1:53. Valley Of Fear (Aaron Merriman) was the runner-up from second-over, and Lofty Treasure ended up third.

A Downbytheseaside filly bred by the late Schare Adams of Saga Farm, My Red Sea is trained by Kauffman for owners Redline Racing Stables LLC., Redracer LLC., and David Van Dusen. My Red Sea, a $75,000 buy at last year's Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, was making her initial pari-mutuel attempt after taking both of her baby races at Scioto and returned $20.00 to win as a 9-1 offering.

The colt and gelding trot went to favored Black Magic (Chris Lems). Black Magic took over the lead after the 28 2/5 opening quarter and then was able to back down the tempo to 59 1/5 at the half and 1:28 1/5 at three-quarters. Rumble Strips (Kauffman) angled out of the two-hole on the far turn to take a shot, and John Dutton (Page) rallied strongly in the passing lane in the stretch after sitting on the pylons in fourth, but both were turned away by Black Magic, as he held on gamely by a head in 1:57 1/5. John Dutton was second and Rumble Strips finished third.

Black Magic is a Full Count colt trained by Steve Cross for owners Richard Gutnick, Tom Pontone, and Joseph Lozito Jr. Acquired for $65,000 at last year's Ohio Selected Jug Sale, Black Magic is three-for-three in the win column thus far, has pocketed $82,750, and paid $4.40 to win.

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In the filly trot, Swinging Senorita (Anthony MacDonald) carved out panels of 27 2/5, 58 4/5, and 1:26 3/5, then fought off a bid by pocket-sitter Truly Relentless (Lems) in the stretch to get the decision by a neck in 1:56 1/5. Cali Red (Merriman) rounded out the trifecta.

Swinging Senorita, a daughter of What The Hill bred by Spring Haven Farm and Doug Millard Holdings USA Inc., is trained by Jason McGinnis for owners Thestable Senorita Group and Hutchison Harness LLC. She has a record of 2-1-0 from three starts, pushed her bankroll to $80,750, and returned $7.20 to win as the 5-2 second choice. She was taken out of the 2021 edition of the Ohio Selected Jug Sale for $21,000.