Big Ranger Headlines Fourth Leg of BSS for Sophomore Trotters at Scioto Downs

From Eldorado Scioto Downs

Eldorado Scioto Downs hosted six divisions of the fourth leg of the Buckeye Stallion Series for 3-year-old trotters on Saturday (July 18). Not a race normally used as a prep for the Hambletonian, Big Ranger did just that, romping to a 1:51.4 victory.

In the last of three $20,000 divisions for colts, Big Ranger (Tim Tetrick) was parked from post six to nearly the :28.2 opening quarter. After taking over from Out Of Range (Chris Page) to lead the field to the :57.1 half and 1:25 three quarters, Big Ranger posted a :26.4 last quarter to win by 12 and three-quarters lengths. Ready For Sunshine (Luke Hanners) was third.

Big Ranger, by In Range out of the Tactical Landing mare Big Blue Bird, was bred by Spring Haven Farm and is owned by Madison Global. The Anette Lorentzon trainee now has $497,860 earned in 13 starts with 11 wins. According to DRF, Saturday’s race was Big Ranger’s prep race for the Hambletonian, as his connections did not want to take him to the half-mile track for the latest leg of the Ohio Sires Stakes and he was not eligible to the normal prep races at The Meadowlands.

The other colt divisions went to Ready For Pictures and Zane Trace.

Marvin Luna drove Ready For Pictures to victory in the first colt division in 1:54.3. The Tabatha DeLong trainee is by Ready For Moni out of the SJ’s Photo mare No Pictures Please. It was the ninth win in 19 lifetime starts for Ready For Pictures, who now has $71,530 earned for owner Jesse DeLong. He was bred by Steiner Stock Farm and Acadia Farms. Ready For Pictures went off at 3-1 and paid $8.40 to win. Siggie (Brett Miller) was second with Lane Holding Court (Jeff Nisonger) third.

Zane Trace and Luke Hanners took the second division in 1:54.1, a new lifetime mark for the gelding. By Uncle Peter out of the Yankee Glide mare She Wore Red, Zane Trace now has four wins in 14 lifetime starts and $33,528 in earnings for owner/breeder Joyce McClelland Stable. The 2-1 second choice paid $6.60 to win. Max The Mighty (Andrew McCarthy) was second with Rose Run Brute (Trevor Smith) third.

There were also three $20,000 filly divisions on Saturday won by Chasingstardust As, Dublins Breanna, and Flirtin Tom, all in new lifetime marks.

The first filly division went to Chasingstardust As (Page) in 1:54.2. By Guardian Angel As out of the Credit Winner mare There’s A Way, Chasingstardust As is a homebred for owner ACL Stuteri AB who now has $46,600 in earnings. It was the third win in 11 lifetime starts for the Anette Lorentzon trainee who went off at 6-1 and paid $15.40 to win. Ranger Rosie (Tyler Smith) was second with Lucky Lady Volo (Marvin Luna) third.

Race favorite Dublins Breanna took the second division in 1:55.3 with Ronnie Wrenn Jr. driving. Owned by 518 Group and Ryan Smith, the Vernon Beachy trainee now has five wins in 14 lifetime starts and $65,530 in earnings. Bred by Dublin Valley Farms, the Enterprise filly out of the Credit Winner mare Brimfull was a $13,000 Ohio Selected Yearling Sale purchase. Til The End As (Tim Tetrick) was second with Moolah In The Bank (Chris Lems) third.

The last division went to Flirtin Tomi (Luna) in 1:55.2. Trained by Herman Hagerman for Jay Burkholder and Joseph Burkholder, Flirtin Tomi now has six wins in 28 lifetime starts and $48,837 in earnings. The Long Tom filly out of the Muscle Massive mare Flirtin Flare was an $8,500 Buckeye Classic Yearling Sale purchase from breeder Perry Coblentz. Mockingbird As (Page) was second with Ima Tommie Girl (Chris Lems) third. Flirtin Tomi went off at 12-1 and paid $27.60 to win.

Racing continues at Scioto Downs on Tuesday (July 21) with a 13-race card. Looking ahead, there will be more Buckeye Stallion Series action July 23-24 with 2-year-old filly pacers and colt trotters in action on Thursday with 2-year-old colt pacers on Friday. There will also be Ohio Sires Stakes on Friday for 2-year-old filly pacers and on Saturday (July 25) for 2-year-old colt pacers. The Ohio State Fair races will then take place at Scioto on July 30 and Aug. 1.