A sizeable crowd turned out to witness the first of 42 nights of live racing in 2013 at Ohio's Toledo Raceway Park.
Returning leading driver Mark Headworth had an early hot hand winning three of the first five races on the program. Most impressive of his winners was Trottin On Over, the two-year-old Ohio Sires Stakes trotting colt champion, who scored an impressive 2:01.4 open length triumph in the second start of his sophomore season. Owned by Emil Konesky and conditioned by Headworth, the son of Neely Dunn's next start is likely to be in first leg Ohio Sires Stakes action at Lebanon Raceway next weekend.
Quickest mile of opening night was ICU Go Girl's 1:56.4 tally in a $2,400 conditoned event for fillies and mares. Randy Mapes was the sulky-sitter for owner-trainer Rex Mapes. It was the third seasonal win in 10 starts for the eight-year-old daughter of Stormin Jesse, who bested Sassy L Lynn (Headworth) and Sarah I Scoot (Rodney Conner), who finished in a dead-heat for place.
The 10-year-old trotter This Sands Hot won for the first time in three starts for owner-trainer-driver John Konesky III. It was the 65th career victory for the Sand Chaser gelding, who is closing in on $250,000 in lifetime earnings. The winner's clocking was 2:02.2, besting runner-up Petiti (Jeff Lieberman) with Vyce (Evan Coblentz) garnering the show dough.
The five-eighths mile oval will feature live harness action every Saturday and Sunday night through September 15 with a 6 p.m. post time.
(Raceway Park)