The Ebony Dragon, Ultimate Catch Notch Second BSS Victories of 2026

By Wes Mayberry

The Ebony Dragon and Ultimate Catch each posted their second Buckeye Stallion Series wins of the season on Sunday (July 19) as Northfield Park Racino hosted four $20,000 divisions of the fourth leg for sophomore colt pacers.

The Ebony Dragon (Luke Hanners) recorded the fastest mile among the four divisions, winning the second division in 1:52.1. A winner in the second leg at Northfield in a lifetime mark of 1:51.4 on June 6, The Ebony Dragon now has 15 victories and $107,131 in 30 lifetime starts. The Fear The Dragon colt is trained by Tyler Bates for owners Suzanne Bates and Cedar Point Beach Racing. He led gate to wire, posting fractions of :27.2, :56.2, and 1:23.4, and won by three-quarters of a length over Heerzadiamondstud (Cameron McCown). Bet The Beach (Trevor Smith) was third.

Ultimate Catch (Chris Lems), a winner in the second leg in 1:55.4, took the fourth division on Sunday in a lifetime-best 1:53.1 for his sixth victory in 11 seasonal starts. The Catch The Fire gelding has eight wins and $70,924 in earnings in 21 career starts. Trained by Scott Cox for owners Wayne Mast Jr. and Jason Ash, Ultimate Catch won by two and a half lengths with Heerz Corinthian (McCown) and Legends Rule (Justin Irvine) rounding out the top three.

Tsunami King (Dan Noble) dominated the first division, leading gate to wire with fractions of :27.1, :54.4, and 1:22.4 and winning by six lengths in 1:52.3. Odds On Mister X (Hanners) was second followed by Fire The Prez (Lems) in third. Tsunami King is trained by Andre Nared for owners Watiker Racing and Eric Nesselroad. The Dancin Yankee gelding has hit the board in 15 of 18 career starts with 10 wins and $56,824 in earnings.

Solid Rock (Irvine) won the third division by three-quarters of a length in 1:54.1 for his first seasonal victory. The Pet Rock colt is trained by Dan O’Mara for owner Marjorie Polhamus. He has hit the board in nine of 17 lifetime starts with two wins and $39,623 in earnings. Odds On Mase (Hanners) led the field at the first three calls but was passed down the stretch and settled for second place. The Great Escape (Chris Presley) was third.

The Buckeye Stallion Series continues Wednesday (July 22) with seven $20,000 divisions of the second leg for freshman filly trotters as part of a 15-race card at the Crawford County Fair in Bucyrus, Ohio, starting at 6 p.m.