The 2026 Buckeye Stallion Series season kicked off with sophomore fillies in action at Northfield Park on Sunday, May 3.

Chris Page drove three winners in the eight $27,027 divisions, scoring with pacers Climate and Queen Valerie and trotter Til The End As.

Climate was the fastest division winner on the pace, scoring by 1-1/2 lengths in a lifetime-best 1:53. Takeaway Hanover (Dan Noble) led the field past the first three calls but ended up finishing third. Climate was first over at the three-quarter mark and pulled away down the stretch as Jamie Amanda (Luke Hanners) overtook her for second place. Climate is trained by Joe Seekman for owner L&L Devisser of Holland, Michigan. The Downbytheseaside-Compass filly has hit the board in seven of 10 career starts with two wins.

Queen Valerie, a Summa Cum Laude-De Valeria filly trained by Ron Burke, led gate to wire in her division and won by three-quarters of a length in 1:56.1 to pick up her third career victory in 11 starts. Eyes Up (Noble) was second followed by Juliet Capulet (Luke Hanners) in third. Queen Valerie is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Knox Services and R A S Racing. 

Til The End As, trained by Anette Lorentzon, won her division in gate-to-wire fashion by 2-1/2 lengths in a lifetime-best 1:59.3. Rose Run Bridget (Tyler Smith) and Tomboy Strong (Anthony MacDonald) were second and third, respectively. Til The End As is a homebred Guardian Angel As-Tilmylastday As filly owned by Acl Stuteri Ab. She has hit the board in five of seven lifetime starts with two wins.

Tyler Smith had a pair of Buckeye Stallion Series wins on Sunday, driving trotter Lynn Range and pacer Baxter Tough to victories.

Lynn Range led gate to wire in winning her division by 1-1/4 lengths length in a 1:56.1, a new lifetime mark and the fastest of the four trots. Dublins Breanna (Braiden Rhoades) was second followed by Topville Lady (Page) in third. Lynn Range has 10 wins and two seconds in 15 career starts. The In Range-Lynns Slider filly is trained by Herman Hagerman for owners Hagerman Racing of Mt. Vernon, Ohio, Lucinda Belcher of Winchester, Kentucky and Martin Yoder of Mt. Eaton, Ohio.

Baxter Tough rallied from fourth place to win her division by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:56.1 over Hold On Tight (Justin Irvine) and Sando (Austin Hanners). Baxter Tough has hit the board in 11 of 16 starts with three victories. The Dancin Yankee-Opies Girl filly is trained by Joshua Rowe and owned by breeder Matt Rowe. 

The other winners were pacer Cruzin Tothe Pier (Noble) in 1:55.3 for trainer Ron Steck and trotters Off The Rails (Luke Hanners) in 1:58.2 for trainer Deborah Swartz and Moolah In The Bank (Lems) in a lifetime-best 1:57.1 for conditioner Scott Cox.

The Buckeye Stallion Series continues Saturday, May 9, with sophomore colt and gelding pacers and trotters at Eldorado Scioto Downs.

(With files from Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association)