Dead-heat finish in OSS division at Scioto

Best Of Ball took the lead for trainer-driver Jim Dailey passing the stands the first time and held sway until the final strides. Aaron Merriman shot Holszmfromfloppin, trained by his father Lanny, up the inside to draw even with the pacesetter.

Holdszmfromfloppin is owned by Calvin and Margaret Gandolf while Best Of Ball is the property of the Down The Lane Stables.

Robinmeblind was third, 3 1/2 lengths behind the winners.

In the other division of the OSS for sophomore pacing fillies, Lavish Liz came from behind with a three-wide move in the final quarter to win over Hoosier Cruiser and Stablecreekcruiser. Chip Noble drove the winning filly for James Coffman and Martha Handschumaker. Her time was 1:53.2. Mike Conklin trains the winner.

Sophomore trotting fillies competed in two OSS splits and they put on a good show for the large Friday night crowd. Get Chipped, the odds-on favorite, was driven confidently by Russell Swartz and she rebuffed a challenge from Rose Run Keepsake to win by a neck in 1:57.4. Fox Avenue Mom was third.

Marty Wollam trains Get Chipped for Acadia Farms and Pat Holden.

The other OSS division for trotters went to the consistent Mocha Jo and trainer-driver Chip Noble in 1:58.2. He sent her to the lead in the second quarter and and she held off a fast-finishing Allthatnabagofchip to win by a nose. Chippednstrawberry grabbed third money.

Mocha Jo was bred and is owned by Patricia Davis of Cedarville.

Trainer-driver Steve Carter confidently drove MJ’s Victory to win the Open Trot as the 3-5 favorite controlled the race after the opening quarter. It was the third victory in a row for the 5-year-old gelding owned by Carter and his wife Peggy. Hello Carlo pressured the winner to the wire and Hardwood Chips held steady for third.  The time was 1:57.1

Any Place’s Dream raced like a dream come true in winning the Open Pace for fillies and mares. She attacked the pacesetting Danika Hanover in the final quarter and put her away, then drew off to win by 2 1/4 lengths in 1:54. It was the seventh win in nine starts this season for the daughter of Sadie’s Dreamboart, owned and trained by Johnson Hill, Jr. Shell I Attack, a 46-1 outsider, edged the 30-1 shot April Thirty for second. (Scioto Downs)