It was a picture-perfect night in Dayton, Ohio with temperatures in the mid 70s for finals of the Buckeye Stallion Series. When the dust cleared, Tyler Smith had won two of the $60,000 finals, including one for his father Jeff.
The Downbytheseaside trotter Docs Boo Boo opened the card with an impressive win for trainer Mark Winter to take the two-year-old trotting filly title. Jeff Nisonger took Docs Boo Boo to the lead and never looked back, winning by three lengths in 1:58.1. It was the filly’s ninth win of the year in 15 starts and raised her earnings to $89,720. Docs Boo Boo is owned by JR Stable LLP. A Long Dream was second with Lose My Mind AS third.
In the two-year-old filly pace, Brett Miller with Celebrate Me Home took the perfect pocket trip following Hill Of A Night for the three-quarters. Miller swung the Racing Hill filly wide around the final turn and drew away to win by six lengths for trainer Jim Arledge Jr., establishing a new lifetime mark of 1:54. It was the second win of the year for Celebrate Me Home, who raised her earnings to $55,325 for owners Laura and Paul Baker, Bill Sanders and the Z Tam Stable. Apple Martini rallied home for second with Carmen N The Devil finishing third.
The Mandalorian scored his fourth victory of the season to win the two-year-old colt pace for trainer Marion Chupp. Chris Lems had the son of McArdle on the rail the entire race and shot down the passing lane to win by a length in 1:54.4. Owned by David Beachy, The Mandalorian raised his earnings to $64,699. Hes Half Naked was second with KOA third.
Tyler Smith got the first of his two wins on the night in the three-year-old filly trot final with La Belle Riviere. Driving for trainer Chris Beaver, Smith was content to sit fourth through the first half-mile. Just past the half, Smith pulled the Triumphant Caviar filly and took the lead around the final turn and held on to win in 1:56. It was the sixth win in 18 starts for La Belle Riviere. Unraced as a two-year-old, the filly owned by Brookside Stables has now earned $101,796. In a mad dash to the finish line, Gracious Triumphant finished second with Alana Hill third.
Smith recorded his second Buckeye Stallion Series win the next race, driving Bridge To Victory (pictured above) for his father, Jeff Smith, in the three-year-old trot. Parked for most of the mile, Bridge To Victory finally grabbed the lead around the final turn and hung on to win by two lengths in 1:56.2. The son of What The Hill won for the sixth time in 16 starts and now has lifetime earnings of $110,760. Bridge To Victory is owned by Ervin Miller Stables, Louis Willinger and Randy Wilt. In a four-horse photo, Floyd Of Rosedale finished second with Mo Bay third. Smith finished the night with four wins.
In the two-year-old colt trot, Romeos Dream with Josh Sutton went gate-to-wire to win for the sixth time this year. Sutton shot the Norman Robbins trainee to the lead from the eighth post position and never looked back, hanging on to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:59.1. It was the sixth win in 11 starts for the son of His Highness. Owned by Susan and Norman Robbins, Romeos Dream has earned $73,640 this year. Serene Bubby finished second but was placed fifth for a break in the stretch. Freeborn was placed second with Republic Return placed third.
The only favourite to win a Buckeye final was Coastal. Ronnie Wrenn Jr. took the lead with the 1-2 favourite just before the half-mile pole and held on down the stretch to beat stablemate Fantasy life by a nose in 1:52. The son of Downbytheseaside is trained by Ron Burke and owned by Burke Racing Stable, J&T Silva Stables, Jason Melillo and Beasty LLC. It was Coastal’s seventh win in 17 starts this year. He has earned $ $164,105 this year and has lifetime earnings of $192,895. Love Me Hill finished third.
In the three-year-old colt pace, the final Buckeye Stallion Series final of the night, Self Made with Aaron Merriman took the lead heading to the three-quarter pole. Around the final turn, Odds On Capitalism stuck his head out front, but Self Made fought off the challenge and charged down the lead to win by a length for trainer Ron Potter in a lifetime mark of 1:51.3. It was the fifth win in 21 starts for the son of Fear The Dragon. Owned by Last Laugh LLC, Self Made now has lifetime earnings of $133,918. Odds On Capitalism was second with Mach Out Knockout third.
The Buckeye Stallion Series consolations are scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 23 at MGM Northfield Park. First race post time is 6 p.m.
(With files from Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association)