Star Rules, Sammy and Shorty make chalk players happy in Belterra Park stakes

CINCINNATI – Favorites came through in reliable fashion, accounting for back-to-back Ohio-accredited stakes that ended an eight-race Friday card at Belterra Park.

Star Rules, pounded down to 1-2 favoritism in a field of 11 fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles over a firm turf, rallied under John McKee to win the $75,000 Miss Southern Ohio. Some 30 minutes later, Sammy and Shorty was a 4 1/4-length winner over seven other 2-year-olds at even-money in the $75,000 Loyalty Stakes, which was run at six furlongs on the main track.

Both stakes winners were sired by Mobil, the 22-year-old stallion who stands at Mapleton Thoroughbred Farm in Polk, Ohio.

McKee said he thought a poor break might have cost Star Rules the race in the Miss Ohio, but he got her to settle into a smooth rhythm in eighth down the backside. The 41-year-old McKee had Star Rules in high gear down the stretch as she edged away to prevail by 1 1/2 lengths over Goodness Sakes. Legendary Kitten was third and Catabout was fourth.

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Star Rules, the runner-up in the 2021 Miss Southern Ohio, returned $3 after finishing in 1:43.48. A 5-year-old mare bred and owned by Doris Tummillo, she is based in Aiken, S.C., where she was scheduled to return Saturday morning on an 8 1/2-hour van ride.

“She’s used to it,” said her smiling trainer, Kenny Huffman.

The start to the Miss Southern Ohio was delayed because of a mix-up involving two runners from the Robert Gorham barn. Goodness Sakes, the eventual runner-up, left the paddock with saddletowel No. 10 and Perry Ouzts aboard, while Out for Fun was wearing No. 6 with Julio Felix. Each was supposed to have the other’s towel and jockey.

Fortunately, the error was discovered shortly before scheduled post time, with both horses being returned to the paddock to be properly resaddled.

In the Loyalty, Sammy and Shorty tracked the early leaders before powering to the lead in the upper stretch under Luis Rivera. He returned $4 to win after finishing in 1:13.78.

The dark bay gelding was coming off a third-place finish in the Aug. 13 Cleveland Kindergarten at Thistledown in his third start. He is owned by Italian Stallions and trained by Jeff Radosevich.

Excitement was second in the Loyalty, followed next by Ronni’s Wind, one of two fillies in the lineup.

The 2022 Belterra meet runs through Oct. 11.