Thistledown: Motega remains undefeated with easy win in Miss Ohio

Motega, under jockey Jareth Loveberry took command at the quarter pole, and then drew off to an 8 1/2-length victory in Saturday afternoon's $50,000 Miss Ohio Stakes for 2-year--old fillies at Thistledown.

Private Cause trailed until the eighth pole, and then rallied to finish second, 2 1/2 lengths ahead of Kira's Wink. Caviar N Champagne, the 1-10 favorite on the basis of her 7 1/2-length maiden win at Saratoga, set the pace until the quarter pole, but then stopped abruptly while apparently in distress at the eighth pole and fell a sixteenth past the wire. After eight minutes of assistance by the track veterinarian and track officials, Caviar N Champagne rose from the track surface and was walked off.

Motega ($7.80), now unbeaten in four starts, ran the six furlongs in 1:13.04 over a fast surface. Owned by Ronald E. Dewolfe and trained by Joseph Martin, Motega has won three consecutive stakes since launching her career in a maiden race at Mountaineer.