The travelling Buckeye Stallion Series stopped at MGM Northfield Park on Monday (July 20) for its third leg for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings.
Four divisions were contested, and each carried a purse of $17,500. Trainer Christi Noble sent two winners to the post during the 'Buckeye' action.
Noble’s first win came when Bargain Shopper (Big Bad John-One Stop Shopping) won his second leg of the series. Owned by Chuck Grubbs, Bargain Shopper got away third with driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr. before taking the lead at the half. The duo then gave way to Brady Brown and Elite Machine past the half. The two battled in the stretch and Bargain Shopper got up by a head in 1:54.4. My Name Is Hairy finished third for Kurt Sugg.
Noble’s second win came with Ubuntu, who recorded his initial win in the Buckeye Stallion Series. The Pet Rock--Provethemwrong gelding was driven by Chris Page and is owned by Norman Rae Racing. Page got away from Post 3, but was hung on the outside before scoring by a half-length over Big Bad Whamo and Kurt Sugg (Ticks A Yankin and Chris Lems finished third). The winner took a lifetime mark of 1:53.3. Ubuntu has hit the board in each of his 17 career starts.
Snowmoon won his second of the series with a lifetime best 1:51.2 mile for Tyler Smith and owner-trainer Jessica Smith. The gelding by Mr Wiggles out of Milky Way Hanover went wire to wire from Post 4 and scored by three quarters of a length. One Last Laugh and driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr. finished second and Nvrpoptdaplugs finished third for Jason Thompson.
The final BSS winner of the night was MC Cam, who also recorded his second win of the series, with a mile in 1:53.3 for Kurt Sugg and Kyle Ater. Russell Hundley owns the McArdle-Delightfully Cam colt who was a winner by a quarter length. He held off Westerns Last Gun for second (Cousin Louie finished third).
Freshman trotting colts will race on Wednesday, July 22 at the Crawford County Fairgrounds in Bucyrus, Ohio for the second leg of for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings.
(With files from the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association)