Hillexotic, who had gone five straight 1:50 or 1:50 and change miles but had only won one of those races, broke out in a big way in the Grade 2 $250,000 Charlie Hill Memorial for open trotters on Saturday night at Eldorado Scioto Downs, prevailing in 1:51 1/5.
Driven by Austin Hanners, Hillexotic watched as Jurassic Hattie (Brett Miller) led early but went by her before the 27 1/5 quarter-mile marker. From there, Hillexotic was able to control the action to the half in 55 1/5 and the three-quarters in 1:23 as Southwind Coors (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) advanced first-up into second despite being parked throughout.
Although he never saw the pylons, Southwind Coors wouldn't go away through the last quarter and kept on digging, but he could never reach Hillexotic, who kept clear to tally by a length and a quarter. Jurassic Hattie was third, followed by Chapercraz (Chris Page) and Hung Over (Dexter Dunn).
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"This horse goes all over the country and gets a different driver week-in, week-out. He comes here as the morning line favorite and they put me down, so I just appreciate the opportunity," Hanners said. "I didn't want one of the favorites on my back. I kind of wanted Jurassic Hattie or one of the other outside horses when the wings folded. It just kind of worked out.
"I thought I might have pulled the trigger just a little early, but halfway down the stretch he heard that horse come back on. He's just a good horse."
An 8-year-old Muscle Hill gelding bred by Hanover Shoe Farms and trained by Todd Luther for owner Greg Luther Racing LLC., Hillexotic has a summary of 34-21-10 from 99 starts, has earned $1,540,443 and paid $2.60 to win as the favorite.
"This is the signature race for Scioto, and I've been a Scioto guy my whole life. I grew up right here on the backside," remarked Greg Luther. "I was really good friends with Brad (the late Brad Hanners), so I couldn't be more excited for his son to win his first Grand Circuit race here."