Ohio Super Night at Scioto Downs featured a little bit of everything, including a five-horse trainer sweep, three wins by Ron Burke, a “dead heat” in a match race starring Foiled Again, a mild upset in the Jim Ewart Memorial and a track record over a sloppy track.

by Jay Wolf

The final night of the 2018 season at Scioto Downs featured a little bit of everything — a new track record, a five-horse trainer sweep, three Burke wins, a “dead heat” in a match race, a mild upset in the featured pace, and a lot of one thing — rain.

The evening, dubbed Ohio Super Night, was dominated by eight $275,000 Ohio Sires Stake (OHSS) finals.

All systems are a ‘go’ for the Little Brown Jug after Lather Up lowered his track mark with a 1:49.3 mile in the OHSS Final for 3-year-old colt pacers, despite the sloppy track.

Montrell Teague had the son of I’m Gorgeous—Pocket Comb right on the gate and sprinted off the gates wings for the early lead. The pair tripped the opening quarter beam in :26 and passed the half in :54.1.

“He had his nose on the gate, so I let him go,” said Teague. “He is easy… I was a little worried about him slipping trying to leave the gate, but he had no problems leaving.”

Lather Up used a :55.2 second half to score a 5 1/2 length win over Rockathon (David Miller). Lather Up is owned and bred by Gary and Barbara Iles and conditioned by Clyde Francis.

Next up for Lather Up will be the 73rd edition of the Little Brown Jug on Sept. 20.

“All systems are a ‘go’ for Delaware,” said Teague. “We will be there.”

In the OHSS final for 2-year-old colt pacers, trainer Brian Brown swept the first five places, taking the entire purse of $275,000. High On Paydaze (David Miller) defeated stablemate Rock Candy (Ronnie Wrenn, Jr.) in 1:53.2. Dislocator (Chris Page), Smackitwithahammer (Trace Tetrick) and Tony Too Tall (Ryan Stahl) completed the Brown sweep.

High On Paydaze (Nob Hill High—Myell) won for the fifth time in six season starts for owners S. W. Hagemeyer, R. A. Mondillo and D. E. Robinson. He was bred by Scott Hagemeyer.

The nation’s leading trainer, Ron Burke, visited the Scioto Downs winner’s circle three straight times in OHSS action. Wittyville (Chris Page) scored an upset in the freshman colt trot with a 10-1 score in 1:57. Baron Remy (Chris Page) took the 3-year-old filly pace in 1:52. The last part of the Burke pick 3 was Impinktoo (Kayne Kauffman) in the sophomore filly trot. The daughter of Manofmanymissions—Margie Seelster won in 1:55.1 and was the only repeat OHSS winner from 2017.

The other OHSS final winners were: Only Take Cash (2-year-old filly trot, 1:57), Queen Of The Pride (2-year-old filly pace, 1:54.2) and Two O B Wonkenobi (3-year-old colt trot, 1:56.3).

The Scioto faithful who braved the all-day remnants of Hurricane Gordon were treated to an exhibition match race between Foiled Again and Lucky Lime. The competition was anything but an exhibition as the two traded the lead a couple of times and the pair paced down the lane together and finished in a “dead heat.”

The Scioto Downs management invited any and all fans to the winner’s circle to get in the rather large win photo and to greet the champions.

The stakes action concluded with the Jim Ewart Memorial for older pacers.

Aaron Merriman sent Split The House out of post six and led the field of 10 past the quarter in :26.2. Nuclear Dragon (Dan Noble), who started from the second tier took the lead before the half in :53.2. The leaders remained unchanged until late in the stretch when Split The House surged ahead to edge Nuclear Dragon by a neck in 1:48.1.

The 2017 Jug champion, Filibuster Hanover (Tony Hall) was third. The heavily favored McWicked (David Miller), who raced mid-pack the whole mile, finished fourth in a dead heat with Western Fame.

Split The House (Rocknroll Hanover—Shake That Junk), who paid $12.20 to win, is owned by Crawford Farms Racing and trained by Chris Oakes. He was bred by Fair Winds Farm Inc. of New Jersey.

The $250,000 Ewart honors the memory of Scioto’s long time race secretary.