The Buckeye Stallion Series dominated the harness racing program on Thursday (July 24) at Eldorado Scioto Downs as 11 races for two-year-old pacers were contested. The six divisions for colts and five divisions of fillies each had a purse of $17,500.

Three colts and one filly remained undefeated through the first two legs of the series.

Twig, driven by Aaron Merriman for trainer Mike Polhamus and owner Julie Farley collected his second win in the series, coming home the winner in 1:54.1. Merriman got away second from the first post and took the lead past the quarter pole, opened up and won by 4-1/2 lengths. The heavy favourite paid $2.10 in defeating Rock N Republic with Ron Gillespie while Marrakesh Express and Chris Page finished third. Twig for the season remains undefeated with three wins.

Merriman was also in the bike with Imagine It for trainer Kent Wilcox and owner Richard Copp. The If I Can Dream gelding went wire-to-wire in 1:55 to win by three lengths. The $2.80 favourite defeated Illini Duke with Tyler Smith and Natives Filou driven by Dan Noble finished third.

The third repeat leg winner was KB Mac with Ryan Stahl and Dan Venier for owners Ken and John Saunders. The McArdle gelding got a two-hole trip before getting up at the wire by a half-length in 1:55.1. Rockinmyshoe for Chris Page finished second and Weekend Pass held on to be third for Dan Noble.

The undefeated filly in the series is Smothastenesewisky, who scored in 1:54.4 which was the fastest filly race on the card. Smothastenesewisky raced fifth before powering up three-wide to win by a nose at the wire. She was driven by Chris Page and owned and trained by Brian Haynes. Lady Warrior got up for second with Ryan Stahl while the early leader Forever Missy hung on for third with Kurt Sugg.

In the other divisions for the colts, Rocks Fantasy with Brett Miller for Steve Carter rallied down the stretch to nose out favoured Brighter Days and Chris Page. Rocks Fantasy tripped the wire in 1:56.4

Heart Of Chewbacca had the fastest time of the night for the colts. Heart Of Chewbacca, the betting favourite, led the entire way to win by four lengths in 1:52.3 for driver Dan Noble and trainer Ron Burke. Pine Grove Racer and Kurt Sugg was second with Speak Well and Chris Page finishing third.

Open My Eyes with Tyler Smith and Dan O’Mara closed with a last quarter of :28.4 as he rallied down the stretch to top Imma Be and Aaron Merriman in 1:53.1. Willzy with Brett Miller finished third.

The other filly winners on the program included Sister Said (Well Said) for trainer-driver Derrick Flowers. Sister Said won by a neck in 1:55.3, beating Bearcreekhoney and Kurt Sugg and Finesse with Ryan Stahl.

Well N Down with driver Anthony MacDonald for trainer Jason McGinnis roared down the stretch rallying from sixth place to win by a head in 1:56.1. Clara Lou with Tyler Smith was second and the favourite Odds On Buckeyes with Chris Page was third.

Merriman had a hat trick on the night in the Stallion Series as he guided the Brian Brown-trained Lovely Munro to victory in 1:55.1. The daughter of McArdle sat second and got up at the wire for the victory, edging out the favourite Apple Soozy and Tyler Smith. Diamond Official and Josh Sutton finished third.

Pompatuse Of Love gave Dan Noble his second win of the night in the BSS. Trained by Kim Dailey, Pompatuse of Love took the lead at the half and never looked back, winning in 1:55.1. Reachthruthesky AS and Tyler Smith was second. Merriman guided Sand Fantasy to a third-place finish.

The third leg for the two-year-old colt and filly pacers is scheduled for Tuesday August 11 at the Champaign County Fairgrounds in Urbana, Ohio.

(OHHA)