Climate Opens as Favorite in Quest for 2-for-2 Start in BSS for Sophomore Filly Pacers

By Wes Mayberry

Three of the four winners from the first leg of the Buckeye Stallion Series for sophomore filly pacers are entered in the second leg at Eldorado Scioto Downs on Friday (June 5). However, just one — Climate — opened as the favorite in her division.

“She’s good gaited,” trainer Joe Seekman said of Climate. “She’s had some tie-up issues that we’ve worked through, but all in all, she’s a pretty nice filly.”

Climate is the 5-2 morning line favorite in the fifth of five $20,000 divisions of the second leg for 3-year-old filly pacers that are part of Friday’s 16-race card with a post time of 5:25 p.m. She will leave from post four with Marvin Luna in the sulky. Owned by L&L Devisser, of Holland, Mich., the Downbytheseaside filly has hit the board in five of seven starts this year with two wins and $23,250 in earnings, representing a marked improvement from her freshman campaign.

“It’s amazing how much they can grow up and mature as a 3-year-old,” Seekman said. “She’s turned a big corner. She’s come back stronger.”

Climate was winless in five starts last year, which saw her notch a pair of runner-up finishes and bank $4,382. Her strong start to the 2026 season included the victory in the opening leg of the BSS at Northfield Park Racino on May 3 in a lifetime-best 1:53. That marked the fastest mile among the winners of the four divisions that night.

“That was a great mile for her. Chris (Page) drove her perfect that night,” Seekman said. “I was very excited to see her win the first leg like she did.”

The filly wasn’t able to carry that positive momentum forward, however, as she enters Friday’s race coming off matching 10th-place finishes in overnight races at Scioto on May 21 and 28. As such, she didn’t open as a heavy favorite on the morning line. She’s Lit (Tyler Smith) and Sea Me (Luke Hanners) are co-second choice at 3-1 and will leave from the rail and post three, respectively. At 4-1, Mandaloun (Chris Page) will leave from post five alongside Climate.

Seekman said those 10th-place finishes were more a result of racing older horses and believes Climate’s status as the morning line favorite is deserved, especially considering that she paced in 1:52.3 her last time on the track.

“She’ll be back in with all 3-year-olds, so I think she’ll be alright,” he said.

First Division

Shehasaway (Brett Miller) opened as the 5-2 favorite and will leave from post four. Trained by Steve Bauder, the Summa Cum Laude filly has two wins and $64,432 in earnings in eight career starts. Jamie Amanda (Hanners), the 3-1 second choice, will leave from the rail. She finished as the runner-up to Climate in the opening leg. First-leg winner Cruzin Tothe Pier (Page) opened as the 9-2 third choice and will leave from post two.

Second Division

Beach Babe Hanover (Justin Irvine) is the 2-1 morning line favorite and will leave from post three. The Downbytheseaside filly trained by Sam Schillaci has hit the board in five of six seasonal starts with three wins and $21,500 in earnings. Captiva Seaside (Page) and Odds On Dividend (Hanners) opened as the co-second choice at 7-2 and will leave side by side from the rail and post two, respectively. First-leg winner Baxter Tough (Smith) drew the far outside post and opened at 8-1.

Third Division

Blood Queen (Luna) will leave from the rail as the 8-5 morning line favorite. The Downbytheseaside filly and Ryan Miller trainee has hit the board in three of five seasonal starts with two wins and $24,875 in earnings. Juliet Capulet (Sam Widger) is the 7-2 second choice and will leave from post five.

Fourth Division

Zooom Call (Hanners), the 2-1 morning line favorite, will leave from post three. Trained by Virgil Morgan Jr., the Summa Cum Laude filly has one win and one second in three seasonal starts. Bad Girl Up (Smith) will leave alongside her in post four as the 5-2 second choice.