Ohio State Fair Stakes action at Scioto Downs

A defending divisional champion at his best, a new track record, a bang-up night for driver Brett Miller, a divisional sweep for veteran sire Nobleland Sam and honors for a lifelong Ohio horseman were the highlights as the curtain came down on four nights of Ohio State Fair Stakes at Scioto Downs Saturday night. Some $675,000 in purses were paid out to Ohio-bred two and three-year-olds over four nights of racing.
 
Lifelong Ohio horseman, 91-year-old Eddie Kirk, received a Special Appreciation Award from the Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association following the third race.
 
Kirk is the man most responsible for the Ohio State Fair Stakes moving to Scioto Downs when they were discontinued at the state fairgrounds in the late 1980s. He suggested to then GM Bob Steele that the races find a new home at Scioto Downs, and since then, the stakes events for Ohio-bred two and three-year-olds have been some of the most eagerly-anticipated races of the season. Saturday's events were prime examples.
 
KF St. Patrick, last year's champion two-year-old pacing colt, put on a show in winning the last State Fair Stakes event of the season in the third $22,600 division of the Director of Agriculture Pace, cruising to a seemingly effortless nine-and-a-quarter length score in a new lifetime mark of 1:51.  It was the sixth win in nine starts this season for the son of Nobleland Sam. Regular pilot Russell Swartz drove for trainer Mike Medors, who co-owns with Henry Kauffman.
 
KF St. Patrick would give his sire, the venerable Nobleland Sam, a sweep of the three-year-old colt divisions.
 
Murph's Tiki Bar won his ninth race of the year with a strong stretch move that propelled him to four and three-quarter length score in 1:52.2 in the second division. Owned by Bruce and Patricia "Trisha" Soulsby, the Nobleland Sam colt was driven by his trainer and other owner Rick Schaut. The time was a new lifetime best for the colt.
 
Noble Falcon, who handed KF St. Patrick his lone loss last season [in the OSS Final on Ohio Super Night at Scioto], took the first sophomore pace division in a new best 1:53.3 by three-quarters with Danny Noble in the bike for trainer Delvin Criswell. It was the first win of the season for the son of Nobleland Sam, who is owned by the partnership of Robert Mondillo, Donald Robinson, Michael Robinson and Steve Cheatham.
 
Hello Yankie, a Yankee Cruiser gelding, sizzled to a new divisional track record of 1:53 in the third of three $28,600 divisions of the Buckeye State Pace for two-year-old pacing colts, taking the lead early and scoring by a length with Ryan Stahl aboard for trainer Mickey Burke. It was the third win in four starts for the pacing gelding, who is owned by Sylvia Burke, Louis Starr Jr., and Frank Baldachino.
 
Real Town Guy, a son of Towner's Big Guy, captured the first of three events for freshman pacers, giving Brett Miller the second of his six wins on the night. Real Town Guy closed to win by a neck in 1:55 over BJ Cruiser, giving him his fourth win in seven starts. Virgil Morgan Jr. trains for Yvette Prudenazno and Basil Kellis.
 
Future Cruiser, another son of Yankee Cruiser, was a sharp winner in 1:54.1 by two and a half in the second division, with Brett Miller driving for Scott Mogan. Owned by the Pinske Stable of Plato, Minnesota, Future Cruiser is now two for three in his young career, and took a new mark with the effort. (Scioto Downs)

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