From Eldorado Scioto Downs
Ohio Sires Stakes action took center stage at Eldorado Scioto Downs on Saturday (Aug. 22) with two impressive gate-to-wire winners in the fourth leg for freshman colt pacers.
Jett James (Brett Miller) won the first, and fastest, $75,000 division in 1:51.1. The Mighty Brix (Tyler Smith) got the pocket trip while Jett James set the pace with :27.2, :56.2, and 1:24 splits. Coming home in :27.1, Jett James won by two and three-quarters lengths over The Mighty Brix with First Grade (Chris Page) in third.
Jett James, owned and trained by Adam Short, now has four wins in seven starts and $116,685 in earnings. The Monte Miki gelding out of the Western Ideal mare Albrizzi Hanover was an $8,000 Blooded Horse Sale purchase from breeder Jacob Mossbarger.
Night Surfer (Luke Hanners) also got his race his way, setting fractions of :27.2, :56.4, and 1:25.4 before winning by a half-length in 1:52.2. Don’ttruckwithme (Chris Lems) was second with Atlantic Ivey (Marvin Luna) finishing third. Night Surfer is now a perfect 3-for-3 with $116,310 in earnings for trainer Virgil Morgan Jr. and owners Let It Ride Stables, Morrison Racing, and Steven Held. By Downbytheseaside out of the Bettor’s Delight mare Dark Force, Night Surfer was a $67,000 Ohio Selected Yearling Sale purchase from KAD Farms.
Scioto Downs also hosted three $20,000 divisions of the fourth leg of the Buckeye Stallion Series for 2-year-old colt pacers Saturday night.
Into The Blaze (Ronnie Gillespie) won the fastest split in 1:53.3, a new lifetime mark. After leading most of the way to the :28 opening quarter, Into The Blaze then sat in the pocket as ATI Booze Cruisin (Sam Widger) took over towards the :58 half. On Fire (Lems) was flushed out from third at the half and led the field to the 1:25.4 third quarter. Into The Blaze pulled midway down the backside and posted a :27.3 last quarter to win by a length and a quarter over On Fire. ATI Booze Cruisin was third. Gillespie also trains and co-owns Into The Blaze with Adam Friedland and Jacob Beard. The $23,000 Buckeye Classic Yearling Sale purchase by Catch The Fire out of the Western Terror mare Bazooka Terror was bred by Martz Creek Farm. Into The Blaze now has four wins in six starts and $61,057 in earnings.
The last split of the evening went to Passing Gear (Kayne Kauffman) in 1:54. Leaving alertly from post seven, Passing Gear led gate to wire, tripping the timer in :28.1, :57.3, and 1:25.4. King On Campus (Luna) got the pocket trip to be second, and Mental Up (Trevor Smith) was third. The gelded son by Downbytheseaside out of the Jereme’s Jet mare My Hare Lady was a $90,000 Ohio Selected Yearling Sale purchase from breeder Seven Lick Stables. Trained by Kauffman for owners Redline Racing Stables, Redracer, David VanDusen and Daniel Schrock, Passing Gear now has $29,750 earned in five lifetime starts with two wins.
Sea Monster (Hanners) won the first split in 1:54.4. Monte Python (Marc St Louis Jr.) was first to the front as the field hit the :27 quarter. Parked four-wide until midway through the first turn from post seven, Sea Monster made the front as the field headed into the second turn. Leading through fractions of :55.4 and 1:24.1, Sea Monster won by a length and three quarters over Monte Python. Seaside Saint (Page) was third. Trained by Morgan Jr. for breeder Let It Ride Stables along with Wall Bros Stable, Hutchison Harness, and Dennis Owens, Sea Monster now has $20,303 earned in five starts this year. Saturday’s win was the maiden victory for the colt by Downbytheseaside out of the Fear The Dragon mare Dragon Lady.
Celebrating its 50th season, the Ohio Sires Stakes continues Monday (Aug. 24) with the fifth leg for sophomore colt trotters at Northfield Park Racino.
The Buckeye Stallion Series continues Sept. 3 with the fourth leg for freshman filly pacers at Eldorado Scioto Downs.