It’s been a breakout year for Western Joe and the 4-year-old homebred will take his considerable talents to Ohio, more specifically Columbus, on Saturday for the $250,000 Jim Ewart Memorial at Eldorado Scioto Downs. Western Joe drew the rail against a field of 10 older pacers in the Ewart and picks up new driver Chris Page for the assignment. “He came out of the last race feeling good so we decided to send him,” said Chris Choate, Western Joe’s trainer. “He’s had a lot of starts but I’ve taken it easy on him during the week.” [DRF HARNESS LIVE: Watch the races LIVE and join Garnet Barnsdale as he provides real-time updates on the Scioto Saturday card.] The number of starts in Western Joe’s case is a good thing and pretty much has been brought out by necessity. Back when Western Joe was returning to the races as a 3-year-old, the transition did not go smoothly. “It took us quite a long time to get him into top shape,” said Choate, recalling the first few races of the sophomore season. “Then I had Jimmy Marohn Jr. drive him in an overnight before the Max Hempt eliminations to see if he was up to that level.” The overnight victory was in the 1:50 range and gave the trainer the confidence to enter, but following a fourth-place finish in the Hempt elimination heat and relegation to the consolation the following week, Choate noticed everything wasn’t right. “He had a slight filling in his right hind suspensory. We took him to Patty Hogan’s and she gave us the good and the bad news,” said Choate. The good news was there were no tears but the bad was that Western Joe would miss the Hempt and many other races on the road to recovery. Fortunately Western Joe was able to make the road back and by late season would tackle top sophomores in the Progress Pace at Dover Downs. “He had missed time and I just didn’t want to shut him down at that point,” said Choate, “so we kept him racing every other week. I think that period racing against aged horses at The Meadowlands worked out great for him.” What has been so impressive of Western Joe is that he’s not only been able to handle 4-year-olds this year but has been extremely competitive against older company, most notably his victory in the Sam McKee at The Meadowlands on Hambletonian day over McWicked, a horse he’ll meet again on Saturday night. “He had to work early in that race to get that trip,” said Choate, suggesting that perfect trips sometimes come at a price. What kind of trip Western Joe gets on Saturday night will be vital to his success and the field of 10 that includes a single trailer is quite formidable. “The rail’s not always the best place to leave from with a slanted gate,” said Choate, “But I’d take it over the eight-hole any day.” McWicked will start from post two and that may be no picnic either with a trailer in the field, but the 7-year-old is fresh off his conquest of Lazarus in last week’s Canadian Pacing Derby and rolls into Columbus looking to go over the $1 million mark in seasonal earnings with a victory. Casie Coleman trains McWicked, the defending champion, having captured the event last year in 1:49 3/5 Nuclear Dragon tries to step up to the big stage off a scintillating 1:48 3/5 Open victory at Scioto this past Saturday. “I’m kind of disappointed having the 10 hole,” said trainer-driver Dan Noble. “He’s a little different out of a hole. When he’s on the front he’s an absolute beast.” Trainer Ron Burke has two from his stable entered in the Ewart with $3 million winner All Bets Off drawing post four and Filibuster Hanover landing post nine in the field. Split The House has only one win in eight tries this year but the veteran son of Rocknroll Hanover has been in top form and figures prominently for trainer Chris Oakes. Split The House was a solid third in the Canadian Pacing Derby final and finished second after an overland trip behind Lazarus in the Dan Patch at Hoosier Park on August 10.  He drew post six. Post time for the Scioto card is 6:30 p.m. and includes a special match race between all-time money leader Foiled Again and local favorite Lucky Lime.