Five divisions of three-year-old filly trotters opened the first leg of the Buckeye Stallion Series (BSS) on Sunday, April 30 at Miami Valley Raceway. Each division carried a purse of $20,000.
Two-year-old BSS champ Docs Boo Boo, with Jeff Nisonger, began the defense of her crown by going gate-to-wire for trainer Mark Winters. The homebred daughter of Downbytheseaside trotted the mile in 1:58.3 to win for the second time in as many starts this year. Docs Boo Boo has won $19,000 in her two sophomore wins to boost her career bankroll over the $100,000 mark for owner Jr Stable.
Ronnie Gillespie drove Pariso (pictured above) to the fastest time of the five divisions, winning in 1:58. The Creatine filly took command at the three-quarter pole and never looked back, winning for the second time in three starts this year. Dalton Walls trains and co-owns Pariso with Bruce Soulsby and Alan Weisenberg.
In the first BSS race of the year, Crystas Legacy and Tony Hall rallied down the stretch to edge Coupe Deville at the wire in 1:59.3. The win was the first of the year in two starts for the daughter of Long Tom who is trained by Brian Miller and owned by Leroy Keim.
Smokinhotirishgirl and Anthony MacDonald grabbed the lead mid-stretch and drew away to win a division in 1:59. Jason McGinnis trains the Uncle Peter filly, who also picked up her first win of the season in her second outing, for Thestable Smokinhotirish and Hutchison Harness.
In the final division, Dan Noble and Vandys Star held on to win by a neck in the gate-to-wire victory. Trained by Scott Cox, the homebred What The Hill filly won her third start of the year in 2:00.3 for owners David Vanderhyde and Cody Vanderhyde.
Buckeye Stallion Series action continues Monday night at Miami Valley with seven divisions of three-year-old filly pacers. Each division will carry a purse of $20,000. First race post time is 4 p.m.
(With files from Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association)