Two-year-old colt trotters went to battle in the second leg of the Buckeye Stallion Series at Eldorado Scioto Downs on Thursday, July 24. Half of the $27,397 divisions were won by Long Tom sons from the rail, with Lt Will B Awesome taking the fastest division in 1:55.3.

Pete Wrenn eased Lt Will B Awesome off the wings to settle in fourth as Bug On and Dan Noble took the lead before the :27.2 opening quarter from post nine. Wrenn angled Lt Will B Awesome out to follow cover from Eckert Hill Brady (Justin Irvine) by the :57 half. Moving three-wide after the field hit the 1:25.4 three-quarters, Lt Will B Awesome drew clear down the stretch to win by three lengths as the 3-5 favourite. Eckert Hill Brady was second with Dans Victory (Brett Miller) closing from the back to be third.

Owned by Wrenn Racing LLC and trained by Melanie Wrenn, Lt Will B Awesome was a $36,486 Ohio Selected Yearling Sale purchase from breeder Midland Acres. The Long Tom gelding is out of the Broadway Hall mare Swinging Nadine and now has a win and a third in his two lifetime starts.

The other son of Long Tom to win his BSS division was Rudedude L in the third split. Getting away third for trainer-driver Hank LeVan, Rudedude L watched as What Say You (Luke Hanners) set the early fractions of :29.3 and :59.4. LeVan moved Rudedude L first-up down the backside towards the 1:28.3 three-quarters, and Rudedude L battled to the front and won by 1-1/4 lengths over What Say You in 1:57.3. Ready Made (Sandy Beatty) was third.

Rudedude L is owned by LeVan Stables Inc., Darmofal Racing Ent., Edward Perry, and Megan LeVan. The gelding was a $14,865 Ohio Selected Yearling Sale purchase from breeder Midland Acres. Out of the Manofmanymissions mare Lipsofangel As, Rudedude L now has two wins in seven lifetime starts.

Perfect Range and Luke Hanners took the second division in 1:58.2. The pair went straight to the front from the rail and led at every call – :29, :59.3, and 1:29.1. Soulful Saul (Carson Conrad) was 2-1/4 lengths back in second with Mogul Maverick (Irvine) third.

Bret Schwartz trains Perfect Range and co-owns him with Racehorse Express and Michael Ferguson. Bred by Edwin Burkholder, the In Range gelding out of the Neely Dunn mare Caviar Dunn is now one-for-three.

The last divisional winner was announced following a double placing at the finish. Aaron Merriman settled Okay One More fourth along the rail from post two as a couple of lead changes transpired heading towards the :29.1 quarter. Going under the line for the first time, Okay One More made his move while Moon Time Moni (Chris Lems) led to the :59.4 half. By the 1:29 three-quarters, Okay One More stalled out, but coming down to the finish, both Moon Time Moni and pocket-sitter Jackie Jann (Wilbur Yoder) went off-stride. They were noses apart at the line with Okay One More 3-1/2 lengths back. Judges placed Jackie Jann sixth and Moon Time Moni seventh with Okay One More inheriting the victory, timed in 1:59.3. Dublins Holiday (Logan Ebersole) was placed second and Dublins Sidney (Ronnie Gillespie) moved up to third. 

Okay One More is a Triumphant Caviar gelding out of the Credit Winner mare Centerfold Lady. A $60,811 Ohio Selected Yearling Sale purchase, Okay One More was bred by Martz Creek Farm and now has two wins in three starts. Chris Beaver trains the freshman and shares ownership with Tim Homan, Leo Fleming, and Bill Manes.

Racing continues Friday and Saturday this week at Scioto Downs with a first post of 5:52 p.m. both days. Friday’s card will feature two divisions of the Ohio Sires Stakes for two-year-old filly pacers and six divisions of the Buckeye Stallion Series for rookie pacing colts. Saturday’s program features stakes races for colt pacers, including three divisions of Ohio Sires Stakes for two-year-olds and a single division of 10 sophomores going for $100,000 USD.

(With files from Scioto Downs)