Two of Ohio's top freshman colt trotters, Big Ranger and Ready Russell, finally clashed in the same division of the Ohio Breeders Championship on Tuesday, Sept. 16 at the Delaware County Fairgrounds.

Coming into the $97,528 event, Big Ranger was undefeated in five starts, while Ready Russell had one loss in seven outings. In the much-anticipated showdown, Big Ranger (Ronnie Gillespie) took the early lead, but Ready Russell (Dan Noble) quickly applied pressure, challenging through a swift opening quarter of :26.4.

The rivals trotted head-to-head around the turn, but the duel ended abruptly when Ready Russell broke stride, giving Big Ranger full control of the race. From there, the In Range-Big Blue Bird colt coasted through fractions of :56.4 and 1:26.1, pulling away to a commanding 6-1/2-length win in 1:56.2. Grape Crush (Chris Lems) finished second, while Soulful Saul (Chris Page) recovered from an early miscue to take third.

Big Ranger, now six-for-six, has earned $301,961 for owner Madison Global. Gillespie trains the colt. The win price was $6.20.

Rose Run Banker captured the second $97,528 split with Chris Page in the bike. The In Range-Hot Chili Girl colt was on top through :29.1 and :59.1 fractions, brushed off the first-over Bitcoin King (Tyler Smith) past three-quarters, and prevailed by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:57.1. Eleven Bang Bang (Trevor Smith) took second over Bitcoin King. Burke Racing Stable LLC, Hatfield Stables, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, and Knox Services Inc. share ownership in the winner. Ron Burke, the Delaware County Fair’s leading conditioner, is the trainer. The colt is now three-for-nine with $206,747 in the bank. He paid $6.20 to win.

Battle Hill captured the sole $163,181 Ohio Breeders Championship division for sophomore trotting males. Driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr. and Battle Hill grabbed the early lead, put up panels of :27.4, :56.3, and 1:25.1, and held pocket-sitter Hilltop Sonar (Page) at bay by 1-1/4 lengths to prevail in 1:54.3. What A Buckeye (Tyler Smith) was third. Battle Hill, a gelded son of Marseille-Battle Mage has now won 10 of his 19 career starts and earned $514,243 for owner William Hartt. He is trained by Matt Burkholder. The gelding returned $3.20.

A total of $194,446 was up for grabs during the fifth leg of the Buckeye Stallion Series for male trotters on the card. The 15-race program featured three $27,778 divisions for three-year-olds and four $27,778 groups of freshmen.

Smoke One For Me (Dan Noble) recorded the fastest mile among the three-year-olds, winning the second division in a lifetime-best 1:55. The Long Tom-Non Smoker gelding swooped three-wide from second-over nearing three-quarters and exploded to a 7-1/4-length victory. Christi Noble trains him for Norman Rae Racing LLC.

Royaltimestwo (Tyler Smith) notched his second BSS of win of the season, taking the first division in 1:56.2. The What The Hill-Like Old Times gelding was seventh at the quarter pole but continued working past the field along the outside and used a late surge to win by three-quarters of a length. He is trained by Marion Chupp for owner Marlin Miller.

Countryofmars (Page) won the third division in a lifetime-best 1:55.2. The Jason Borowski trainee moved from third to the lead nearing three-quarters and remained in front the rest of the way en route to a 2-1/2-length victory. The Marseille-Pinecountry gelding is owned by James and Patty Borowski.

Tom Largo (Lems) recorded the fastest mile among rookies, winning the third split in a lifetime-best 1:55.2. The Long Tom-Smith Hall gelding went to the front past the quarter and led the rest of the way, winning by two lengths. He is trained by Scott Cox for owners Jughead Stables LLC, G Peters, and Robert Kubiak.

“He’s starting to come into his own,” Cox said of Tom Largo during a post-race interview. “He doesn’t get started too quick, but he trots the back half really well.”

Dublins Holiday (Justin Irvine) won the first division by a half-length in 1:57.4 for his first career victory. The Ready For Moni-My Place Anytime colt took the pocket trip and collared the pacesetter in the stretch to prevail for trainer Logan Ebersole for owner Ronald Rust.

Dublins Striker (Tyler Smith) also recorded a time of 1:57.4 in winning the fourth division for his first career victory. He entered the final stretch in second, trailing by just a length, before moving out of the pocket and passing the leader en route to winning by 1-3/4 lengths. The What The Hill-Suzy Smart gelding is trained by Herman Hagerman for owners Anthony Miller and Hagerman Racing.

Time Has Come (Kurt Sugg) won the second division in a lifetime-best 1:58.2. The Uncle Peter-Contessa Leigh colt led wire to wire and won by a half-length for trainer Miles Wollam and owners Martin Wollam and Acadia Farms Inc.

“He was a little sore early, so we backed off with him because we thought he was a nice horse, and he came through here,” Wollam said of Time Has Come in a post-race interview.

Spend The Prize headlined Ohio Fair Racing Conference action as the gelding extended his winning streak to nine in the first division for sophomore male trotters. The son of Enterprise-Spend It In, driven by Sam Widger, cut the mile, trotting fractions of :28.2, :58, and 1:27.1 and stopping the clock in 1:56.1. He won by two lengths over Uncle Rat (Page), followed by Ninety Proof (Pat Melloy Jr.). The win was the gelding's 16th in 32 lifetime starts for trainer Rosy Weaver, who co-owns him with Heartland Acres.

Long Tom gelding Flying Tom won the second division for three-year-old colt trotters. He finished in 1:58.2 with Page driving.

Long Tom sons Longtimecomin and Buckeye Baron took two of the three divisions for two-year-old colt trotters. Longtimecomin won the first split in 2:00.3 with trainer Ryan Stahl in the sulky. Buckeye Baron was victorious in the third division in a lifetime-best 2:00.4 with Page driving.

In Range gelding Perfect Range posted the fastest mile among the three groups, winning the second division in 1:59.4 with Luke Hanners in the sulky.

The 22-race Wednesday card featuring the Jugette (Grade 1) and The Standardbred events will kick off at 11 a.m.

(With files from the Little Brown Jug & Ohio Harness Horseman's Association)