Scioto: What The Hill freshmen prevail in The Next Generation trots

Be My Baby Now and Chulo, both by first-crop sire What The Hill, won their respective $150,000 flights of The Next Generation for 2-year-old trotters on Friday night at Scioto Downs.

Driven by Chris Page in the contest for fillies, Be My Baby Now raced in fourth and worked out a second-over trip behind Oftom (Anthony MacDonald), while Martysmagicmoment (Ray Paver) chopped out fractions of 27 4/5, 56 4/5, and 1:27. In the lane Be My Baby Now rallied three-wide into the top spot, and she would go on to win by a length and a half in 1:57 4/5. Reichers Caviar (Aaron Merriman) advanced from fifth to second in the final quarter, and Moments Created (Kurt Sugg) was third.

Ron Burke trains Be My Baby Now, who was bred by Stephanie Smith-Rothaug and sold for $47,000 at the Ohio Selected Yearling Sale, for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Weaver Bruscemi LLC., Knox Services Inc, and Hatfield Stables. Be My Baby Now, who was making her debut after winning both of her qualifiers at The Meadows, is out of the Raffaello Ambrosio mare Baby Bella, making her a half-sister to Buen Camino (1:52, $782,951). Be My Baby Now was the 2-1 second choice and paid $6.80 to win.

In the event for colts and geldings, Chulo (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) was able to get to the lead from the outside post nine after the 29 2/5 opening quarter, but he would then be overtaken by Rose Run Xtreme (Don Irvine Jr.) before the 58 2/5 half. Creatine Star (Dan Noble), who was the early pace-setter, then re-moved to the point prior to the 1:27 2/5 three-quarters and remained in command into the lane.

It looked like for much of the stretch drive that Creatine Star had the race won, but Chulo hit top stride once he was guided into the passing lane by Wrenn Jr., and he was able to get up in time to win by half a length in 1:57. Creatine Star had to settle for second, and Rose Run Xtra (Page) came in third. There was an inquiry into a possible pylon violation by the winner, but the judges determined no infraction had taken place.

Chulo is trained by Per Engblom for winning lessee Buckstone Land Livestock. Chulo, who was second and first in two qualifiers at the Meadowlands and Magical Acres in New Jersey, was bred by Renee Spahr and is the first foal out of the Majestic Son mare Chula (1:55 4/5, $35,506). Sent off at odds of 7-1, Chulo returned $16.80 to win.