The first leg of the Buckeye Stallion Series is complete after racing at MGM Northfield Park on June 20.
The series began with six divisions of the three-year-old colt trot at MGM Northfield Park on June 15.
Rose Run Vindicate, a gelded son of And Away We Go, held off a late charge to win the first division for driver Dan Noble and trainer Mike Polhamus in 1:56.4. It was Rose Run Vindicate’s second win of the year, and it upped his career earnings to $48,559 for owner Donald Roberts.
In the second $17,500 BSS division for trotters, Dontyousayit, a son of Dontyouforgetit, went wire-to-wire from post 1 for his third win of the year. Kurt Sugg drove the Edward Miller-trained colt to a 1:58.1 win for owners Ivan and Duke Sugg.
Parked at the three-quarter pole, Chris Page grabbed the lead down the stretch with 14-1 Westfiftythird win the third division in 1:56.1 for trainer Ron Steck and the Here’s To Us Stable. It was the second win of the year for the son of My MVP.
Next up, Luckey Stormin edged favourite Exhibit Class at the wire. Co-owner Josh Slater drove the Stormin Normand colt to his third win this year in as many starts, a lifetime best 1:57.1 mile for trainer and co-owner Elpidio Bernardi Jr.
The best time BSS time of the night went to Team Jesse, as the son of Team Six rallied down the stretch to claim a second consecutive victory in 1:54.3. Cameron McCown drove for trainer Brian Georges, who shares ownership with Mary Ann Georges and Kent Walker.
Enforce the Law, a son of Triumphant Caviar, wrapped up the first night in the Buckeye Stallion Series as he grabbed the lead in the stretch to claim his first win of the year in 1:56.1. Ronnie Wrenn Jr. had the drive for owner-trainer Joseph Kramp.
The following night (June 16), three-year-old fillies and colts took the track at Eldorado Scioto Downs for five divisions each in the filly and colt pace.
On the filly side, Big Bad Mosa, the daughter of Big Bad John, went off as the favourite and didn’t disappoint. Jeremy Smith drove Big Bad Mosa to victory in 1:53.1 for trainer Ronnie Roberts and the Watson Stable. It was her fifth win in nine starts this year.
In the second division, the favourite again came out on top as Narina Hanover covered the mile in a lifetime best of 1:52.3 for Tyler Smith. The win was the first of the year for the Yankee Cruiser filly trained by Clarence Foulk and owned by the Foulk Stables and William Hartt.
Rockin Farrari made it three favourites in a row to see the winner’s circle. The daughter of Rockin Amadeus got up at the line to win by a neck in 1:53.2 for driver Brett Miller, owner-trainer Isaiah Shrake and co-owner Terrie Shrake. It was the filly’s third win in as many starts this year.
Jeremy Smith picked up his second win of the night in the series when Princess Rockette snapped the string of favourites winning. The Pet Rock filly went wire-to-wire in a lifetime best 1:53.1 for her second win of the year. She is trained by Parker Smith and owned by George Hensley Jr.
Corner Pocket, a daughter of Art Official, hung on to win the final division by a nose in 1:54.4. Dan Noble drove for trainer Christi Noble and owner Stephen Sexton.
In the first division for colts, Miller rallied Aim For Glory, a gelded son of Rockin Amadeus, down the stretch to capture his racing debut in 1:53.3. Aim For Glory is owned by Emerald Highland Farms and trained by Kelly O’Donnell.
Noble was also a winner in the colt pace, as he guided Bargain Shopper to an easy win. The Big Bad John gelding won for the first time this year in 1:53 for trainer Christi Noble and owner Chuck Grubbs.
Dragon Roars Again roared home in an evening best of 1:52 to win the third division. The son of Dragon Again led the entire way as Miller picked up his second BSS win of the night. Dragon Roars Again is trained by O’Donnell for Emerald Highland Farms.
Chris Presley took Medoland Bosa to the lead and never relented, posting a career best mile of 1:53.4. Medoland Bosa, a gelded son of The Panderosa, won for the sixth time in his career for trainer Mike Medors and owners Tamara Hoovler and Hutchison Harness.
Sectionlineronnie, a We Will See gelding, wrapped up the night shocking the field to win for the first time in 2020. Josh Sutton drove the 21-1 long shot to a lifetime best of 1:54.1 for trainer Steve Bauder and owner Harold Bauder.
The final day of action for the first leg of the Buckeye Stallion Series was the three-year-old filly trot from Northfield Park on Saturday (June 20).
In the first division, Lightning Belle, a daughter of Dejarmbro, took the lead at the half-mile mark and held on for driver Ryan Stahl is 1:56. It was the filly’s first win of the year for trainer Scott Cox and owner G Peters.
Greg Grismore and Dream Change battled the entire way with Evita, but was first to the line to capture the second division. The Pamela Young-trained Winning Fireworks filly won for the first time this year, upping her career earnings to $87,681 for owners Big Dog Racing.
Susie D and driver Hunter Myers took the lead at the top of the stretch to give trainer Bryan Weaver and owner Donna Anderson the win. The daughter of Uncle Peter picked up career win number 10 in 1:55.3.
It took until the fourth division for a favourite to find the winner’s circle in the BSS. Ronnie Wrenn Jr. guided Manofmanymissions filly Bange Bi to a narrow victory for trainer Trent Stohler. It was the filly’s first win of the year for the ownership group of Stohler Stables, Stately Gaits Stable, James Bafia and Hen Shaut Stable.
In the final BSS race of the first leg, Kurt Sugg went wire-to-wire with Myco, a daughter of Broadway Hall, in 1:55.1 for trainer Dan Ater and owner Paul Stolfo.
Leg two of the Buckeye Stallion Series begins June 30 with the three-year-old colt trot from Eldorado Scioto Downs.
The Buckeye Stallion Series is open to foals sired by a Standardbred stallion registered with the Ohio State Racing Commission during the year of conception.
(Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association)