Open Pace at Eldorado delivered an amazing performance of contenders

The $37,500 Open Pace at Eldorado Scioto Downs delivered an exhilarating performance, although the field was small with just six contenders. Seafire, driven by Beau Brown, surged down the stretch from the far outside to claim victory in a career-best time of 1:48.4.

From the outset, it was a fierce battle for positioning, with half the competitors going three-wide until halfway around the first turn. Stars Align A (Dan Noble) held the rail, while favourite Charlie May (Eric Goodell) was parked outside from his four-hole and Chase H Hanover (Luke Hanners) took to the far outside from post five. By the time they reached the opening quarter in :25.2, Chase H Hanover had taken the lead and neatly tucked into the pylons as the field approached the first stretch.

Santana Hanover (Josh Sutton), racing sixth, moved forward and pushed Stars Align A as the group reached the half in :54.1. As they headed down the backstretch, the competitors were split three in and three out.

At the three-quarters mark, Chase H Hanover posted a time of 1:21, while Santana Hanover advanced to the three-wide position and Seafire tipped four-wide from the rear of the pack. The fast-closing Seafire powered home in :27 to win by a length and three-quarters at 5-1 odds. Charlie May managed a close second, while Santana Hanover secured third in a thrilling four-horse blanket finish.

Seafire, a four-year-old stallion by Downbytheseaside and out of the Towners Big Guy mare Wildfire Princess, is trained by Brian Brown and owned by Country Club Acres, Joelyn Ridder, Mark Kantrowitz, and Scott Davis. Bred by Enos Weaver, Seafire has notched nine wins and has accumulated $187,511 in earnings over 17 lifetime starts.

This exciting finish in the Open follows a spectacular finish in the Fillies and Mares Open on Friday night.

Next week, racing returns to Scioto for the Ohio State Fair, featuring two-year-old fillies on Thursday, two-year-old colts and three-year-old filly trotters on Friday, and three-year-old pacers alongside three-year-old colt trotters on Saturday. Scioto is teaming up with the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association to offer a free horseshoe decorating centre on Friday and Saturday from 5:30 to 8 p.m. next to the program stand. Saturday will also feature a bounce house, petting zoo, and food trucks. Post time is set for 5:45 p.m. each day.