Gone Girl upsets in F&M Open
Gone Girl, at odds of 10-1, was able to close from mid-pack in the stretch and post an upset victory in the $30,000 Fillies & Mares Open Pace at Eldorado Scioto Downs Friday (May 20).
The third race co-feature saw Marloe Hanover and driver Brett Miller leave from post eight like a rocket to the opening quarter mile in :25.4. Sitting second was Anthem (Josh Sutton).
They went by the half mile in :53.2 and then the race favorite, Coral Reef Hanover (Brady Gallers) came first-over with Slymar’s Dragon (Dan Noble) grabbing the second-over cover to the three-quarters in 1:21. Meanwhile Gone Girl and driver Jeremy Smith sat on the wood in fifth place.
As they started down the stretch, Coral Reef Hanover began to fade and Gone Girl finally woke up, staying on the rail and going to the passing lane for Smith and came on in the final strides to best Slymar’s Dragon by a quarter length in 1:51. Marloe Hanover was third.
GONE GIRL REPLAY
The fast mile tied Gone Girl’s lifetime mark. It was the fourth win this year for the eight-year-old mare by Dragon Again. She is owned and trained by Mark Gillenwater of Eaton, OH and paid $23.80 to win.
In the 10th race $26,000 Open Handicap Trot, it was the race favorite, Refined, who came first-over in the backstretch and posted her second straight win.
Smoking Jet (Chris Page) led the field from the start with MVP Luke (Aaron Merriman) sitting the pocket seat to the first quarter in :26.3. They raced single file to the half mile in :55.2.
Then it was driver Mitchell Cushing pulling on the right-line with Refined and the six-year-old mare by Uncle Peter came after the race leader to the three-quarters in 1:24.1 with A Fancy Face (Trevor Smith) enjoying the second-over cover.
As they started down the stretch, Refined put away Smoking Jet and then held off a determined A Fancy Face the entire length of the stretch to win by one quarter of a length in 1:54.3. MVP Luke was third.
REFINED REPLAY
Refined is trained by Virgil Morgan, Jr. for owners Joyce McCelland and Larry Wills of OH. It was her third win this season.
For complete race results, click here.
by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink
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