Ohio may have a new darling filly, this time from the 2-year-old crop. Registered Ohio-bred 2-year-old filly Back to Ohio (by Midshipman out of Sheza Runaway Star) took on open stakes company for the first time in her career at Presque Isle Downs in Erie, PA on Monday, October 3rd, and made easy work of her competition winning the Presque Isle Debutante by 2 and ½ lengths. In town for the mount was veteran jockey Jareth Loveberry for trainer Larry Rivelli and owner Patricia’s Hope LLC.
Back to Ohio took a slight step left out of the starting gate, but jockey Jareth Loveberry quickly got her straightened out and she sprinted to the front with a first quarter mile in 22 and 4/5ths seconds. She quickly took command, and after reaching the ½ mile in 45 and 4/5ths seconds, Back to Ohio began to lengthen her lead and by the top of the stretch, found herself 4+ lengths in front. Loveberry was never threatened, and began to gear down the speedy filly with 1/16th of a mile to go. This was Back to Ohio’s 4th win from 4 career starts, pushing her career earnings to $185,700. Today’s win now gives her two wins on the Tapeta surface at Presque Isle, showing her versatility with ability to flash speed on both conventional dirt and a synthetic surface.
Back to Ohio was bred in Ohio by Trail M Boarding & Guest Farm (Bobby & Colleen McMichael), where she was foaled and raised in the pastures of their Wilmington, OH farm. The filly was a $70,000 yearling purchase at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling sale, and a $385,000 2-year-old purchase (by Larry Rivelli for Patricia’s Hope) from this year’s OBS Spring Two-year-Olds In-Training Sale in April.
Not often do Ohio-breds flash their talent outside of the state and win so impressively against open company. Here’s to the ongoing success of Back to Ohio and her connections!
