Nine Buckeye Stallion Series races highlighted the first night of racing on Tuesday (Aug. 8) from the Champaign County Fairgrounds in Urbana, Ohio with each of the five divisions for two-year-old colt trotters and the four divisions for two-year-old filly pacers carrying a purse of $20,000. Dan Noble won four of the nine races, two in each division.
Noble picked up his first win of the night in the first division for freshman colt trotters as he drove Be Not Beasty to the win in 2:02.1. The son of What The Hill grabbed the lead going to the three-quarter pole and drew away to win by three lengths for trainer Scott Cox. Sweeney finished second with Solomon Seal third. It was the first win for Be Not Beasty, who is owned by Michael Soehnlen. Be Not Beasty has hit the board in all four starts.
Noble recorded his second win with the colt trotters in the next division. No Nap Nash surged ahead at the three-quarter pole and cruised to a five-length victory in 2:02.3 for trainer Miles Wollam. Dew Me A Solid was second with Flash By finishing third. It was the first win of the year for the Creatine colt, who is owned by Bob Troyer, Martin Wollam and Norman Rae Racing.
The third division for three-year-old colt trotters went to Thispetesonfire and Ronnie Gillespie. Gillespie took the son of Uncle Peter to the lead and held on down the stretch to win in 2:02.2 for trainer J H Miller. Tom Swifty finished second with Swan Hilluva Rush third. It was the second win in four starts for Thispetesonfire, who is owned by Powerline Racing Stable.
Tyler Smith and Bob Da Bomber went gate-to-wire to win the fourth division for freshman colt trotters. The Long Tom gelding won by two lengths in 2:01.4 for trainer Ty Loy, who owns Bob Da Bomber with David Wills, Richard Coad and Douglas Gregory. It was the third win in five starts for Bob Da Bomber. Uncle Ruckas was second with Sir Maverick finishing third.
Saint Joe won for the second time in five starts as he won by a neck in 2:02.3. Wavethefreddiebird finished second while Zoned was third. Ken Holliday drove the gelded son of Creatine for owner-trainer Robert Boggs.
In the first division for the three-year-old filly pacers, Austin Hanners rallied Frontier Dragon down the stretch to win by four lengths in 1:59.2. Q Dancer was second with Twirlrinsenrepeat finishing third. It was the fifth win in nine starts for the Dragon Again filly, who is trained by Steve Carter. Frontier Dragon has won four of her last five races for owners Brent Hopper, Kyle Gray, Jerry Scheve and Michael Gray.
Carter picked up his second training win of the night when Noble drove Legend N Kress to a wire-to-wire victory in 1:58.1. Lion Order finished second with Kamala crossing the line third. It was the fifth win in nine starts for the daughter of Bit Of A Legend N who is owned by Jacob Mossbarger, Ben Foor, Corey Martin and Matthew Kemper.
Noble’s final win in the Buckeye Stallion Series came with Unbridled Fury, who is trained by his wife Christi. Noble took the Fear The Dragon filly to the front and never looked back, winning by a length in 1:58.4. Hot Shave was second with Western Time third. Unbridled Fury has hit the board in all four starts, winning two for the ownership group of Michael Cimaglio, William Richardson and Norman Rae Racing.
In the final division for the freshman filly pacers, Naked On A Hill (pictured above) set a new track record for two-year-old filly pacers winning easily by eight lengths in 1:57. Itsonlyupfromhere finished second with A Special Dance third. Jeff Nisonger drove for trainer Mark Winters. The daughter of Nob Hill High has finished first or second in all five races, winning three. She is owned by Dennis Shaner.
Buckeye Stallion Series action resumes Wednesday (Aug. 9) when two-year-old filly trotters take the track at MGM Northfield Park.
(With files from Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association)