Brett Miller will have a tough decision to make at some point in Ohio Sires Stakes action for three-year-old filly trotters, but he’s able to put off making that choice as his luck continued on Friday, June 14 at Eldorado Scioto Downs when his two hot fillies drew into — and won — separate $89,041 divisions.

Jurassic Hattie (pictured above) put in a dominating performance in the first division of OHSS action, winning in 1:52.3.

Leaving from post four, Jurassic Hattie took a big lead after Justasiam AS, who had settled in the pocket, went off stride. Cruising through fractions of :27.2, :56.4 and 1:24.4, Jurassic Hattie won by 9-1/2 lengths to continue her perfect win streak on the year, going five-for-five. Butter N Syrup (Chris Lems) tracked the winner to finish second with Createaqueen (Dan Noble) finishing third.

“I can’t say enough about her; she takes care of herself and race day she just goes,” said trainer Eric Nesselroad. “She’s been real sound this year; we put her behind the gate to jog her, keep her relaxed, and she’s been good that way.”

Jurassic Hattie is by Volstead out of the Striking Sahbra mare High Gear Sahbra. The three-year-old filly is owned by breeder Jerry Welch and trained by Eric Nesselroad. In 12 lifetime starts, she has earned $298,383, never finishing worse than second.

“I couldn’t be any happier. Eric’s done a fantastic job with her, and he’s let her develop on her own,” said owner-breeder Jerry Welch. “We don’t know how good she is … I’m just proud that I own her.”

In the second division, Legacy Affair (Sam Widger) left from the rail to lead to the opening quarter of :27.1. Midnight Nolan (Tyler Smith) sat second with 1-9 favourite Sugar Instead in third. By the :56.3 half, Sugar Instead was underway to challenge Legacy Affair and took the lead by the 1:24.4 three-quarters. Sugar Instead coasted home to win by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:53.2. Legacy Affair was second with Roxanna (Aaron Merriman) getting up for third.

Sugar Instead is by Volstead out of the Windsongs Legacy mare Sugar Pop. Bred by Elmer Dean Miller, Sugar Instead is trained by Virgil Morgan Jr. for Joyce McClelland and Larry Wills. The filly now has $452,693 earned in 15 lifetime starts.

Five Divisions Of Buckeye Stallion Series For Sophomore Trotting Colts

Five divisions of the $27,397 Buckeye Stallion Series (BSS) for three-year-old colt trotters were also held at Scioto on Friday.

Irresistible Son (Anthony MacDonald) took an early lead in the first division, yielded to Smokitsteady (Chris Page) for the :26.4 opening quarter and quickly retook, leading through :56.4 and 1:24.3 fractions. Hung Over (Miller) made a first-over bid, tucked in briefly in the last turn, and surged past Irresistible Son to win by a half length in 1:53.1 with Sir Maverick (Kayne Kauffman) finishing third. Hung Over is owned by Bluestone Farms and Lynda Stewart. Bob Stewart trains the son of Creatine who now has $166,064 earned in 12 lifetime starts.

In the second division, Iwanabtheonlyone (Aaron Merriman) took the early lead but yielded to Sup (Kurt Sugg) by the :27.3 quarter. The action continued with Mr WWC (Chris Lems) making the front as the field crossed under the wire for the first time. Eventual winner Tom Swifty (Noble) was sitting fifth and came first-up just before the :56.4 half. When Im Gone AS (Tony Hall) picked up cover and drafted towards the 1:26.1 three-quarters. Coming down the stretch, Tom Swifty went on by to win by 1-1/4 lengths over When Im Gone AS; Mr WWC held on for third. Tom Swifty is owned by Norman Rae Racing and breeder Sandra Burnett. Christi Noble trains the Long Tom gelding who now has $99,647 in earnings in 17 lifetime starts.

The race was also the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association Charity Race. With the win, Home for Families took home $13,699 to continue their mission to reduce the trauma of homelessness and empower low-income families to achieve safe and stable housing and financial independence. When Im Gone AS earned his charity, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Ohio, $6,849 with his second-place finish, while Mr WWC earned the Ohio FFA Foundation $4,110. The rest of the charities each received $2,740.

Trevor Smith sent Papa Nordin straight to the top from post nine and led the third division of the BSS to an opening quarter of :28.2. Long Ridge (Noble) took over and led the field through fractions of :58.3 and 1:28.2. Long Ridge looked home free, but Papa Nordin went up the passing lane to sneak by and win by a head in 1:57.1. TTs Magnum Force (Sugg) made a first-over bid going to three-quarters and finished third. Papa Nordin is owned by Danny Collins, Alan Swayne, Jr., Keith Gisser and Hurley Racing. The win was the Volstead gelding’s second in five seasonal starts, and it increased his earnings to $29,935 in 10 lifetime starts.

Super James (Daren Harvey) left from post five in the fourth division of the BSS to lead the field to the :28.4 opening panel. Pleaseandthankyou (Cameron McCown) settled in second, with 4-5 favourite Gypsy Hill (MacDonald) sitting third. The outer flow started to develop by the :58.1 half, but when the field straightened out on the backside, Pleaseandthankyou popped the pocket to challenge the leader. Nose to nose by the 1:27.3 three-quarters, Super James held tough to the challenge. Midway through the last turn, Gypsy Hill tipped three-wide and took the momentum to win by a length in 1:56.4 over Commander Tom (Austin Hanners), who came up the passing lane to finish second. Super James held on for third. Gypsy Hill, by What The Hill, is owned by Thestable Gypsy Hill Group and Hutchison Harness. He has now earned $99,907 in 14 lifetime starts with seven wins.

Scioto’s leading driver, Jeremy Smith, took the final division of the BSS with Zoned for owner-trainer John Payne, also in 1:56.4. The duo got away third from the rail and let the dust settle between Flash Of Fame (Page) and Forever A Lion AS (Hall) as Flash Of Flame hit the quarter in :27.4. Hills Espress (Sandy Beatty) started the outer flow at the :56.3 half. Zoned continued to stay along the rail at the 1:26.3 third quarter and went up the passing lane to win by a nose over a fast-closing Chipstead (Lems). Flash Of Fame held on for third. Zoned, by What The Hill, now has $43,984 earned in 29 lifetime starts.

The 90-day 2024 Eldorado Scioto Downs race meet runs through Sept. 14.

(Scioto Downs)