Scioto Downs Hosts First Leg of BSS for Sophomore Male Pacers and Trotters

Eldorado Scioto Downs hosted 11 $20,000 divisions of the first leg of the Buckeye Stallion Series for sophomore male trotters and pacers as part of a 16-race card on Saturday (May 9). The opening leg featured six divisions of pacers and five divisions of trotters.

Odds On Rpj (Chris Page) won the second division of pacers in a matchup of multi-leg winners from last year’s BSS. The nine-horse field included Heerz Corinthian (Cameron McCown), the 2025 BSS 2-year-old male pace champion who joined Odds On Rpj as a two-leg winner a year ago, as well as 2025 three-leg winner The Ebony Dragon (Luke Hanners).

Odds On Rpj, the 8-1 fourth choice, left from post six and got out to the lead after moving first up as the field crossed the quarter pole in :27.2. The Virgil Morgan Jr. trainee led the rest of the way in fractions of :56 and 1:23.4 and won by four lengths in a lifetime-best 1:52.3 in his seasonal debut. It was the third career win for the Downbytheseaside gelding owned by Odds On Racing. The Ebony Dragon was second followed by Rock On Beach (Brett Miller) and Heerz Corinthian in third and fourth, respectively.

Sophomore Male Pacers

First Division: Global (Chris Lems) scored his fourth victory in six seasonal starts, tripping the wire in 1:53.2 to win by half a length. The son of Downbytheseaside is trained by Brian Brown for owner Diamond Creek Racing. Myboypank (Marvin Luna) and Odds On Ray (Page) rounded out the top three.

Third Division: In third place and trailing the leader by two lengths at the three-quarter pole, Touchedbythesea (Page) rallied to win by a quarter-length in a lifetime-best 1:52.3. Fifth at the three-quarter mark, Tsunami Seas (Luke Hanners) finished second followed by Seven Seas (McCown) in third. Touchedbythesea is a Downbytheseaside gelding trained by Ron Burke for owners Burke Racing Stable, Knox Services, Slaughter Racing Stb, and Weaver Bruscemi. It was his second win in as many starts this season.

Fourth Division: Odds On Sugar (Page) won by a length in 1:53.2 after sitting in third place at the three-quarter pole. Fire The Dems (Austin Hanners), a 48-1 longshot, was second followed by Ultimate Catch (Lems) in third. It was the second career win for Odds On Sugar, who was making his seasonal debut. The son of Downbytheseaside is trained by Morgan Jr., who owns the horse with Odds On Racing, Sugar Valley Farm, and Operation Horsepower.

Fifth Division: Legends Rule (Page) won by a length as the 13-1 fourth choice in 1:54 with Fire The Prez (Lems) in second and Worknupalather (Mike Wilder) in third. Trained by Teesha Symes, Legends Rule has two career wins. The Bit Of A Legend N gelding is owned by Richard McGlynn and Randy Marriage.

Sixth Division: Odds On Phil (Luke Hanners) won in gate-to-wire fashion in 1:53, matching his lifetime mark. Fired Up Henry L (Hank LeVan) was one and a half lengths back in second followed by Ninetynineproblems (Wilder) in third. Trained by Morgan Jr., Odds On Phil recorded his fourth career win in what was his seasonal debut. The son of Lather Up is owned by Odds On Racing.

Sophomore Male Trotters

First Division: Time Has Come (Brady Brown) scored his second seasonal win in three starts. The Miles Wollam trainee won by one and a half lengths, tripping the wire in a lifetime-best 1:56.1. The Uncle Peter gelding is owned by Marty Wollam and Acadia Farms. Mile Range (Miller) and Mister Moolah (Page) rounded out the top three.

Second Division: Royal Enterprise (Page) led gate to wire and won by six and a half lengths in 1:55.4. Trained by Greg Wright Jr., the son of Enterprise has hit the board in all three seasonal starts with one win, one second, and one third. He is owned by Jon Erdner. Long Hill (Luke Hanners) was second followed by Hall Stead (Lems) in third.

Third Division: Ready For Sunshine (Luke Hanners) edged Dublins Holiday (Page) by a head at the line to win in 1:57.2. Out Of Range (Miller) was third. It was the first seasonal win and seventh career victory for Ready For Sunshine, a Ready For Moni gelding trained by Deborah Swartz. He is owned by Robert Laniewicz.

Fourth Division: Bitcoin King (Austin Hanners) led gate to wire, winning by two and three-quarters lengths in a lifetime-best 1:55.4. Whoisthis (Wilder) and Dan’s Victory (Page) rounded out the top three. It was the first win in three seasonal starts for Bitcoin King, a son of Uncle Peter trained by Chris Beaver, who owns the horse with Part Time Stable.

Fifth Division: In a close finish, Eckert Hill Brady (Sam Widger) edged Jackie Jann (Wilbur Yoder) and Another Round (Luke Hanners) at the line as all three tripped the wire in 1:56.3. The win came in the seasonal debut and a lifetime mark for Eckert Hill Brady, an In Range gelding trained by Rosy Weaver. He has 10 career victories and is owned by Weaver, Roger Huston, and Barbara Wilson.

The Buckeye Stallion Series continues June 4 with the second leg for sophomore filly trotters at Eldorado Scioto Downs.

Photo: Odds On Rpj (Conrad Photo)