Unbeaten four for four for 2yo Lather Up filly

Harness racing’s equal second fastest horse in history looks like he may have produced a smart one in the form of the Virgil Morgan trained Odds On Hialeah (Lather Up).

The two-year-old resumed in her new campaign today at Scioto Downs and with her regular pilot Brett Miller aboard, put her unbeaten streak on the line.

The winner of her first three starts which included a 1:52.2 effort in winning a leg of the OHSS on the same track had prepared for her first race day appearance in nearly a month with a quiet hit out at the Scioto Downs qualifiers. Although she was well beaten (5 1/2 lengths) in a 1:55.1 effort, it came at the hands of another talented filly in the Brian Brown trained Westwinds (Captaintreacherous).

Westwinds was unbeaten in her career until yesterday where she bowed gracefully to the powerful looking Papi Grad (Papi Rob Hanover) at Harrahs Philadelphia in a $89,112 division of the Pennsylvania Sires Stakes for 2YO Fillies, beaten half a length in a 1:52.3 effort.

While there were some talented fillies like last start winner of the Ohio State Fair Series 2nd Division in Queen Of Fear (Fear The Dragon), punters read between the lines and sent out Odds On Hialeah a warm favorite from post five.

Taken quietly off the gait by Miller, the pair settled in fourth position among the eight runners and remained there through the half (55.3) and third quarter (1:23.2) before making her move in the stretch.

The early burn by Rose Run Ahslee and Skywalker Sea ultimately told and despite running home in a 29.2 last quarter (2nd fastest), the daughter of Lather Up prevailed to score by a half length on the wire in 1:53.

ODDS ON HIALEAH REPLAY

It took the Virgil Morgan freshman’s career tally to a perfect four from four and her career earnings in excess of $120,000, enough to become the fifth $100,000 earner for her fledgling sire and the first in his second crop at stud.

Lather Up has fashioned a tidy beginning to his stallion career to date with 68% of his eligible foals to date having started with progeny earnings of more than $2.5 million dollars.

With a little over four months left in the 2024 season his 2YO crop sit in 12th on the North American money list, while his 3YO crop are battling well also inside the top 20.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Brad Reid, for Harnesslink