Dead heat in $30,000 Open

Sometimes even the photo finish camera cannot say who won the race and they call that a dead heat. And that’s what happened at Scioto Downs Saturday afternoon in the $30,000 Open Pace.

The 9^th race harness racing feature saw 10-1 Rose Run Ulysses (Western Vintage) and driver Kayne Kauffman shoot for the early lead from the rail and they made sure to park out the race favorite, Later Dudes (Sweet Lou) and driver Tony Hall.

They sped to a quick first-quarter in :26.2 with Later Dudes, who was going for his third straight win, take command and led the field to the half mile marker in :54.

As they raced towards the three-quarter pole, GD Western Joe and driver Jeremy Smith tried coming first-over as Later Dudes led the field as they passed the three-quarters in 1:22.1.

Then it was Kauffman sending Rose Run Ulysses to the passing lane in the stretch and those two obviously finished perfectly in stride at the finish in a dead heat in 1:50.3. GD Western Joe was third.

DEAD HEAT REPLAY

For Rose Run Ulysses, a six-year-old gelding, it was a lifetime mark and his fourth win on the year for trainer and owner Kimberly Dailey of Mechanicsburg, OH. He paid $9.40 to win.

It was the third straight win and eighth victory of the year for Later Dudes. He is a five-year-old gelding, trained by Ron Burke for the Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi. He paid $3.80 to win.

For complete race results, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink