Load The Cannons takes Ohio feature

The much-anticipated Paper Grin Special for three-year-olds only over two miles on the good dirt took place on Saturday, with Load The Cannons, trained by winnaquid, the eventual winner under M. Holland.

The favourite Affair Of The Tiger took up the early running, holding on to the lead until Old Pulpit, who had been running second, took up the running after they had gone nearly ten furlongs. The winner, who was drawn one from the outside, improved throughout the race until making a sustained challenge from the home turn, going on to win by one and a quarter lengths. Old Pulpit finished second under L. Ingersoll and Conbarro was third, beaten a total of five lengths, under Q, Redden.

Although most people left him out of the reckoning, it was no surprise to see Conbarro finish in the money, as he had won an Allowance race over a mile and three-quarters on a similar surface, following up from a Maiden Special Weight win over thirteen furlongs.

Acid, who finished fourth despite a dislike of the ground, is being aimed at a chance to prove himself over the trip again in four weeks, but some of the runners here, including the winner, will not re-oppose as they are either due to run elsewhere or will not be ready in time for that race, according to their trainers.

Of the other runners, there were several non-stayers, some of whom were well-fancied in the betting despite the question over stamina, but unfortunately it looked as if Brandy’s Dream, a proven stayer, was injured.

The winner was picked up from a Claiming race for $50,000 with the intention of running on the turf, but he proved to be superior on the dirt and has improved with distance.