National seasons marks at Scioto Downs

Eldorado Scioto Downs has seen some blistering miles this year and Saturday (June 26) was no different – with two new national seasons marks being set.

The first was by Herculisa in race three, the first $50,000 division of the Ohio Sires Stakes (OHSS) for 3-year-old trotting fillies. Not only did her 1:52 mile make her a national season leader, it set a new track record for the division.

Herculisa (Brett Miller) left from post four to take the early lead in :27. After the :56.3 half, Celebrate With Me (Chris Page) took over to the 1:23.3 three-quarters. Herculisa got up in mid-stretch to win by two lengths. Virgil Morgan, Jr. trains the filly by My MVP out of the Andover Hall mare Herculotte Hanover for Jesmeral Stable. The mile demolished her previous lifetime best of 1:54.2 and pushed her career earnings to  $136,612. Herculisa went off at 3-1 and paid $8.40 to win. Celebrate With Me finished second with Designer Specs (Ryan Stahl) getting up for third.

The second national seasons mark was set by stallion Catch The Fire in the Open. Also piloted by Brett Miller, the 4-year-old sat in the pocket to Ocean Rock (Dan Noble) setting the fractions of :25.4, :54 and 1:20.1. Catch The Fire got up to win by a neck in 1:47.3.

The time of the mile was just one fifth of a second off the Scioto track record for 4-year-old stallions set by Pet Rock in 2013. Catch The Fire now has three wins in five starts this year, never missing the board, and now has over $750,000 in lifetime earnings. He is trained by Todd Luther for owners by Black Magic Racing, LLC and CT Stables LLC. Ocean Rock finished second with Gold Digger King (Tyler Smith) finishing third. Catch The Fire went off at 8/5 and paid $5.40 to win.

The other division of the OHSS went to the 1-5 favorite Katie’s Lucky Day in 1:55.2. Leaving from post three, driver Trevor Smith went to the top but let A Doll Face (Kayne Kauffman) get to the front by the :27.2 opening quarter. The Uncle Peter filly then re-took going under the wire for the first time and led through splits of :58 and 1:27.2. Out of the Muscles Yankee mare Yansky, Katie’s Lucky Day is owned by Black Magic Racing, LLC and now has just under $150,000 lifetime earned. Merry Ann (Page) got up for second with Swizzle Hanover (Mike Wilder) finishing third. Katie’s Lucky Day paid $2.40 to win.

Racing continues at Eldorado Scitoo Downs each Tuesday-Saturday with a 6:15 p.m. first post. There will be a special Fourth of July card (Sunday) at 2 p.m. Due to that added race date, the track will be dark on Tuesday (July 6). View the entire 2021 Eldorado Scioto Downs racing schedule here.

For full race results, click here.

by Jason Roth, for Scioto Downs