Opening night at Scioto Downs is one sure sign that May has arrived. The central Ohio oval kicks off the first of 90 dates on Thursday, May 9 and races mostly on a Tuesday to Saturday schedule until closing night on September 14. The only exception in May is a special Memorial Day card instead of Tuesday that week. Special dates to consider are July 6 when the track presents a pair of Grand Circuit events for 3-year-old fillies along with the popular Next Generation series for Ohio-bred 2-year-olds and September 7 when the Jim Ewart and Charlie Hill stakes for older pacers and trotters, respectively will be contested. Below we tackle the 16-race opening night card with a post time of 5:50 PM (EDT). BEST BET: SUGAR INSTEAD (2nd) SPOT PLAY: NOCRYNINTHEUBER (4th) Race 1: Overcomer Trot for 3YO C&G - Pick 5 (2) TOM SWIFTY grinded up on the rim, put away the leader and won in-hand last time at Miami Valley. Anything close to that effort should result in a victory. (6) A LINE OF STONE put the hobbles back on and kept up nicely in a fast mile. If the breaking issues are behind him a top two finish is very much in reach. (7) YOU DON’T FOOL ME has turned in two nice tries in as many starts this year but the outside post hurts a bit. [DRF HARNESS: Get Harness Eye PPs for this card] Race 2: Full Count for 3YO Fillies (6) SUGAR INSTEAD was the Ohio champion in this class last year and she started 2024 off right with a strong winning effort. She seems too classy and fast for these. (2) UMA LADY seemingly had no issues with hobbles added. The qualifier wasn’t available to watch but we’ll go on the theory that the train is now back on the track for a filly that is certainly fast enough to compete with the rest. (3) JUSTASIAM AS also debuted with a win and she can certainly build on that mile. Notice she won over this track three times last year. [DRF BETS: Wager on tonight's Scioto card at DRF Bets.com!] Race 3: Non-winners $3,750 in last 4 - Pick 4 (5) RACING PARTY has been caught in fast races three of the last four starts and when she wasn’t the 5-year-old was stuck in the second tier to start the race. In a race with no killers she can be a player at a price despite the double class drop. (1) ROCKABILLYCOCKSHUT was hung every step of the mile upon entering this class at Miami Valley last time. The trip has to be smoother this time around. (2) SEASIDE FLIRT aired it out in her first start of the year and should be tighter for that experience. (3) LEE LOO is also dropping two classes and lured Miller off the top pick. Race 4: Jerry Knappenberger for 3YO C&G that are NW 1 race or $7,500 life (6) NOCRYNINTHEUBER battled the leader first over and paid the price in his 2024 unveiling. Lasix is now added to the equation along with a pretty nice driver change. Not sure we will get anywhere near the 6-1 listed price on the morning line. (5) TOPOFTHEHILL AS can’t be faulted for his inability to keep up in a 1:51 3/5 mile right out of the blocks in 2024. He’s a clear threat but still winless in eight starts. (3) DECLASSIFIED raced evenly in his first career start; more now? Race 5: Non-winners 6 races or $50,000 life to be claimed for $40,000 (6) PRIMARY DRIVER paced the fastest mile of his life in defeat last time. Anything close to a repeat effort here would make him the one to beat. (1) DRAGTHECHIPSMYWAY moves back to the inside of the gate where he has had good success with a pair of recent seconds. (9) BARLEY A TEASE uses his early speed to gain position and get big checks every week. (5) THERSOMTHINGGOINON comes off a win but isn’t quite reliable at shorter odds. Race 6: Non-winners 4 races or $40,000 life (4) BOUNDTOBEFEARLESS was looped away from the gate last time and wound up parked every step of the mile. New driver Miller should have an easier road to the front if he chooses that route. (10) KAGE DANIEL is off three straight 1:51 and change miles. He’s clearly a major player in here if Smith can navigate the second tier. (9) TEQUILA AND ICE will be firing off the gate and should get an exotics slice with any reasonable road to the top. Race 7: Jerry Knappenberger for 3YO C&G that are NW 1 race or $7,500 life (4) LEGENDARY NOBLE really hasn’t been that bad and if Lasix ups his game even a little this group is in trouble. (2) ROCKNTHEROAD chased nicely last time for second while dropping four seconds off his first start of 2024. (8) THREAD THE NEEDLE was able to put together a 55-second final half in his first career start; more now? Race 8: Non-winners $2,000 in last 4 - Pick 4 (4) COUNTRY HILL was even in his first start of the year and then stopped after flashing speed with his owner/trainer in the bike. Brett Miller picks up the assignment now in start three and I’m expecting a peak effort. (6) HURRIKANE WILLIE G has been dropping in search of form. He has early speed and wasn’t awful last time. Notice he’s winless the last two years. (9) PENANCE and (10) FOX VALLEY BRITZKA are both getting class relief but neither has form or speed. Will they wake up? Will they be able to work out a trip? I’d try either one if the price was right. Race 9: Non-winners 6 races or $50,000 life to be claimed for $40,000 (8) JIMMY L can’t seem to catch a break in terms of post position but does move in one spot tonight. He’s certainly sharp enough to compete if Widger can fire to the front or work out a trip. (6) THE MANDALORIAN uncorked a 54 1/5 final quarter last time with no chance of success. Certainly Miller will put him in play this week. (4) EASY CAM WIGGLE comes off a decent third and should have a chance at a low exotics slot. (5) OSSIE THE SECOND scored at first asking for Burke but hasn’t been seen in five weeks; tough call. [DRF HARNESS: Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter] Race 10: Overcomer Trot for 3YO C&G - Pick 5 (8) SWAN HILLUVA RUSH shouldn’t have much trouble making the top and he really doesn’t face the toughest field in the world. (2) GABBYS ROCKYTOP came up a bit short last time but certainly figures prominently in here. (3) WHAT A CON ran up on a foe and broke when trying to correct to the outside. Don’t hold that break against him. Race 11: Non-winners $2,000 in last 4 (7) CORAL REEF HANOVER went a long mile on the rim last time from post nine and now gets a key class drop; no excuses tonight. (10) HYSTERICAL aired it out and tired in her first start of the year. More can be expected now if the second tier doesn’t present any issues. (1) SHECAUGHTTHEKATY drops to the level of her last win at Miami Valley. Race 12: Overcomer Trot for 3YO C&G (6) IRRESISTIBLE SON certainly improved in his second start of the year while coming home with good energy and dropping a few seconds of time. He moves inside a few slots on the gate and might opt to show early speed. (1) NO NAP NASH comes off a quick mile and he hasn’t missed the board this year; big threat. (5) RANKIN can certainly improve in his second start of the year; driver change too. Race 13: Jerry Knappenberger for 3YO C&G that are NW 1 race or $7,500 life - Pick 4 (8) LUCKY BOY HILL wasn’t awful in his first start of the year and can certainly improve off that effort. (9) WHO DEY NATION comes out of the toughest race in the field and figures to be a major factor, but he’s 0-for-14 lifetime. (2) BUCKEYE STATE exits the same race as the top pick and is another who could show more in start two of 2024. Race 14: Non-winners 6 races or $50,000 life to be claimed for $40,000 (6) GOLDEN ENDEAVOR did good work over this track last year with three wins from eight starts. Hanners has driven her aggressively before and those tactics might work well here. (5) ASIAN ZING was in a bad spot last time when the horse he was following broke. He back nicely while widest in the lane to pass many horses. (4) SAID N DONE AS worked out a nice trip and raced well finishing just in front of #5 last time. (2) SHES MYSTICAL gets post relief and looks like a player, but he owns a 14-0-0-3 record here compared to 27-7-6-4 elsewhere. Race 15: Jerry Knappenberger for 3YO C&G that are NW 1 race or $7,500 life (6) JDS ZACK ATACK came up with an improved effort at Hoosier most recently. None of these are easy to love on the win end so I’ll take a shot on this guy at a nice price. (2) MAGIC BY THE SEA is the most logical winner until you see he’s winless in 10 starts. (5) HEERZ POPEYE made a decent middle move before tiring last time. Perhaps a well-timed late move will provide better results. Race 16: Non-winners 2 races or $25,000 life (7) LEAVING A LEGEND posted a 543 3/5 final half in his first start for Kauffman with no chance of a board spot. Hopefully he’ll get a bit more pace and the trainer/driver will have a better idea of how he races in start two. (5) DOUG KEN WIN raced well last time but seems risky considering how many times he has made breaks. (6) TWENTY FIVE went an easy mile from the outside after missing a month of action. He could show much more here. (2) DENIAL has every right to improve in his second start of the year for the top Morgan barn.