By Wes Mayberry
The Delaware County Fair hosted seven $20,000 divisions of the fifth leg of the Buckeye Stallion Series for sophomore pacers — three for fillies and four for colts — as part of a 19-race card on the final day of its five-day meet in Delaware, Ohio, on Thursday (Sept. 24).
Pansy Dragon (Tyler Smith) recorded the fastest mile of the three filly pace races, winning the very closely contested second division that saw the top four finishers trip the wire in 1:54.1. Cruzin Tothe Pier (Yannick Gingras) and Zooom Call (Luke Hanners) were just a neck back in second and third, respectively. Pansy Dragon is trained by Timothy Lane for owner Corrine Lane. Unraced at 2, the Fear The Dragon filly has hit the board in eight of nine seasonal starts with four wins and $37,820 in earnings.
Eyes Up (Cameron McCown) is now a two-time BSS winner after taking the first division by half a length in 1:55.1. Ima Beach Girl (Justin Irvine) and Vh Goldie (David Young II) rounded out the top three. Eyes Up is trained by Jessica McCown for owner Caldwell Mamie Racing. The Lather Up filly has six wins and $89,522 in earnings in 29 career starts.
Mandaloun (Chris Page) won the third division in gate-to-wire fashion, crossing the line in 1:54.3. The Downbytheseaside filly recorded fractions of :28.2, :57.4, and 1:25.4 and won by half a length over Its Nacho Turn (Austin Hanners) with Jamie Amanda (Luke Hanners) in third. Mandaloun is trained by Ron Burke for owners Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, and RAS Racing. It was her second career win, increasing her earnings to $40,650.
Odds On Sugar (L. Hanners) was the fastest among the four sophomore colt pace winners, taking the second division in 1:52.2. The Downbytheseaside gelding is now a three-time BSS winner on the season. He led gate to wire with fractions of :28, :56.3, 1:24.4, and 1:52.2 and won by six and a half lengths. Ati Kiss My Hocks (Page) was second followed by Heerz Corinthian (McCown) in third. Odds On Sugar is trained by Virgil Morgan Jr., who co-owns with Odds On Racing, Sugar Valley Farm, and Operation Horsepower. He has four wins and $122,331 in earnings from 17 lifetime starts.
Brix’s On Fire (Smith) won the first division by three and three-quarters lengths in 1:53, leading gate to wire with fractions of :27.1, :55, and 1:23.3 for his second BSS win of 2026. Sunnys In The Sea (Gingras) and Odds On Mister X (L. Hanners) rounded out the top three. Brix’s On Fire is trained by Jeff Smith for owners James Everhart and Kathy Smith. The Catch The Fire gelding has four wins and earnings of $53,775 in 19 career starts.
Contour (McCown) scored his fifth career win with a victory in the third division in 1:54, increasing his earnings to $33,375. The Downbytheseaside gelding led gate to wire with fractions of :27.3, :55.4, and 1:23.3 and won by three and a half lengths. Odds On Mase (L. Hanners) and Legends Rule (Jody Jamieson) rounded out the top three. Contour is trained by Brian Brown for owners Steve Main and Sandra Edmondson.
Touchedbythesea (Page) matched Odds On Sugar with a third seasonal BSS victory, taking the fourth division by a length in 1:54.2. The Downbytheseaside gelding is trained by Burke for owners Burke Racing Stable, Knox Services, Slaughter Racing Stable, and Weaver Bruscemi. He has four career wins and earnings of $41,275.