Entering the 2026 season, Canadian horseman Neil MacInnis could only hope to be at Eldorado Scioto Downs for the Ohio Sires Stakes Scarlet Championships. As it turns out, that’s exactly where he’ll be on Saturday, Sept. 12 to watch Rhodena Blue race for a Sire Stakes title on Ohio Super Night.

“The foundation of anything you do in this industry is hope, and we were hopeful that we would culminate to this,” said MacInnis, who trains Rhodena Blue and co-owns her with his young daughter, Rory. “We’re ecstatic that this opportunity has happened, but at the same time, we were hopeful from the beginning that this would be a possibility, and we prepared for it. I managed her racing all summer long with the idea and the hope that we’d be here, and here we are.”

Rhodena Blue is one of nine sophomore filly pacers who will be vying for a title in this milestone 50th season of the Ohio Sire Stakes (OHSS) when Scioto Downs hosts all eight $300,000 USD divisions of the Scarlet Championships as part of a 16-race card on Saturday starting at 5:25 p.m. 

For MacInnis and and his daughter, who live in Mono, Ont., the long trips to Ohio have paid off.

“This is the culmination of what Rory and I have done together and what it means for us and our growth. This is hard work, and getting to this point shows the fruits of our labour,” said MacInnis. “I will be especially thinking of my dad, Frank, who passed away in March. He was the reason I’m into horse racing and he would have been so looking forward to this.”

The journey to Saturday’s race started back on May 8 when MacInnis and driver James MacDonald came away impressed with Rhodena Blue’s performance at Woodbine Mohawk Park. She was in ninth place and trailed the leader by more than 12 lengths at the halfway mark before charging up the field to finish second.

“The first thing James said when he came off the bike was, ‘Not many fillies can do what she just did.’ So I knew I had something there,” remembered MacInnis.

With Tyler Smith in the bike, Rhodena Blue won a Buckeye Stallion Series race at Scioto Downs on June 5, this time coming from sixth place and seven lengths back at the halfway mark. That’s when MacInnis decided to give her a shot against better competition in the OHSS. That decision paid off, as the Lather Up-MC Taylor filly once again put her closing speed on display. Driven by Smith, she trailed the leader by over eight lengths and was in seventh place at the half but won by three-quarters of a length in 1:52 at Scioto Downs on July 4.

“That confirmed that what happened before wasn’t a one-off and that I had a horse with a real determination to race,” said MacInnis. “I credit that to the work my daughter and I did in bringing her along and teaching her to race.”

Prior to the next OHSS race on Aug. 28 at Scioto, Smith cautioned MacInnis about being too aggressive with a spot in the final likely secured. MacInnis agreed with the strategy, and Smith had Rhodena Blue in last place at the halfway mark before letting her put her signature late surge on display. That time, however, it was only good enough for a fourth-place finish as the top four horses were separated by just one length at the line.

“Tyler waited and came charging at the end, and I thought she was second in that race,” said MacInnis. “That’s when I knew that she’s as legitimate as any other filly in that race.”

Looking ahead to Saturday, Rhodena Blue is listed at 10-1 odds on the morning line after drawing the seven-hole with Trevor Smith tabbed to drive. Though far from the early favourite, her past performances are proof that you can never count her out.

“We’re hoping for some speedy fractions and that may very well play into her racing style,” said MacInnis.

Seaside Shuffle (Chris Page) is the 5-2 morning line favourite and will leave from post five. Other top competitors include Sassy By The Sea (Tyler Smith, 7-2), a three-time OHSS winner this season, as well as Rodeo Dancer (Brett Miller, 9-2) and Seaside Charm (Ronnie Wrenn Jr., 9-2). 

It’s certainly a talented field, but MacInnis is confident that Rhodena Blue is prepared.

“I don’t have a track, so her training regimen takes her through fields and up and down hills over long stretches. She jogged Monday and Tuesday between eight and 10 miles over fairly rugged ground,” he said. “Her biggest attribute is that last burst, so my training thoughts were preparing her strength and endurance to be ready to strike at the end.”

MacInnis said a victory on Saturday would be a huge blessing for him and his daughter, who celebrated her 11th birthday on Monday.

“I can’t say enough about the involvement of my daughter — the growth and maturity she has for an 11-year-old is absolutely striking,” he said. “She’s involved 50 per cent on training decisions and she’s wise beyond her years.”

With the journey he and his daughter have been on with Rhodena Blue, MacInnis knows they both will come away feeling victorious no matter what place the filly finishes.

“It would be a blessing to show well, but for us, the victory happened quite a while back when my daughter and I started on this journey with the people we’ve met along the way,” he said. “I’m just a small-time grassroots guy who started with the ultimate dream. What could be better than this?”

Big Ranger’s Connections Eye Second Straight Ohio Championship

The connections of this year's Hambletonian runner-up Big Ranger couldn’t have asked much more from him during his freshman season in 2025. He won all seven of his starts and banked more than $500,000 and finished the year as an Ohio Sires Stakes champion, Ohio Triple Crown winner and the Ohio Horse of the Year. Though his perfect record is no longer intact, his sophomore campaign has been another huge success.

“It has been a very successful, very exciting season so far,” said Anthony Miller, of the Madison Global group that owns Big Ranger. “Right off the bat, he had a couple races that could’ve gone a little better. But he seems to be doing very well now.”

Miller is joined by Wes Beachy, Reuben Hershberger and Benjamin Shrock in the Madison Global group based in Dundee, Ohio. 

Following Big Ranger’s success as a freshman, they wanted to see how he would fare at the Grand Circuit level as a sophomore this year and have been pleased with the results. In his first start of 2026 — the James K. Hackett Memorial — the son of In Range out of Big Blue Bird made an early break and finished last. But he has five wins and one second in eight starts on the year while banking $nearly $560,000. And he isn’t finished.

Big Ranger is one of nine sophomore colt trotters who will be vying for that division's Ohio Sires Stakes title on Saturday. While he drew the unfavourable nine-hole, he is the morning line favourite at 8-5 ahead of 7-2 second choice Tom Largo, who will leave from the rail.

A win on Saturday would add to an already successful campaign that includes a win in the Oak Grove Trotting Derby Consolation, a victory in two legs of the OHSS and a triumph in a leg of the Buckeye Stallion Series. Those results were highlighted by his record performances in the OHSS at Scioto. His 1:51.2 mile in the second leg was a track record and he subsequently lowered it in the third leg with a mark of 1:50.3.

“To see a trotter go that fast is always a thrill, and it’s even more so when it happens to be yours,” said Beachy.

But the true thrill came in the Hambletonian at The Meadowlands last month. Driven by Tim Tetrick, Big Ranger won his Hambletonian elimination race in 1:50 and went on to feature in one of the most exciting finishes in Hambletonian history. Racing for a seven-figure purse, Big Ranger was side by side with Apex nearing the finish line and the two horses tripped the wire in a photo finish in a stakes-record 1:49.2. After several minutes, Apex was declared the winner by the slimmest of margins. Despite the defeat, it was an experience that Miller and Beachy will never forget.

“The emotions were definitely high in a good way,” said Beachy. “Being able to take family and friends and have the race go like it went was amazing. It was beyond anything I had ever experienced.”

“Just being there in that atmosphere with that caliber of horses was a great experience,” added Miller. “Of course, we would’ve loved to have won it, but that finish with them coming down to the wire like that will always be one of my favourite memories. My heart was beating so fast and I wasn’t sure who had won. I’ll never forget that feeling. We were second by the slimmest of margins, but I’m still very proud of the horse. He definitely showed that he can compete at that level.”

Big Ranger hasn’t raced since the Hambletonian on Aug. 8 but is well positioned for Saturday’s Ohio championship based on conversations with trainer Anette Lorentzon.

“I talked to her a few days ago and she said he seems to be doing very well,” said Miller. “She sent me a video of him jogging on Wednesday and he looked really good.”

With Tetrick back in the bike, all eyes will be on Big Ranger as he looks to repeat as an OHSS champion on Saturday. But his connections know the field contains several talented competitors. Tom Largo (Chris Lems) is perhaps chief among them, as the Long Tom gelding scored wins in four of the five legs of the OHSS as part of a 6-5-0 record in 11 starts with earnings over $300,000 on the year. He finished 4-3/4 lengths behind Big Ranger in their third-leg matchup, but both Beachy and Miller know to never assume a victory.

“There are a lot of good quality horses in that field and you can’t count your chickens before they hatch,” said Beachy. “I would not dare assume that it’s a guaranteed win.”

“I definitely think Big Ranger can win it, but anything can happen on any given night,” added Miller.

They’ll enter Saturday’s race with no expectations of victory, but they’re hoping to leave Scioto with what would be a very meaningful back-to-back OHSS champion in Big Ranger.

“It’s in Ohio and kind of at his home track, so it would be very nice to win it,” said Beachy.

Miller agreed: “To do it two years in a row would be a dream come true.”

Sophomore Filly Trot

Chip Shot (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) is the early 2-1 favourite for trainer Vernon Beachy and Ohio owners John Schlabach and Walnut View Farm. The Mission Accepted filly scored wins in the fourth and fifth legs of the OHSS in matching 1:54.2 miles, which is a lifetime best. She has seven wins and more than $150,000 in earnings in 14 lifetime starts and will leave from post five. Sarahs Mission (Chris Page) is the 7-2 second choice and the Ron Burke trainee will leave from post two.

Sophomore Colt Pace

Tsunami Seas (David Miller) is the 3-1 morning line favourite after drawing the rail and will leave alongside 7-2 second choice When Is Parade (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) in post two. Tsunami Seas is a Downbytheseaside gelding trained by Virgil Morgan Jr. for Ohio owners Jeffrey Rector, Larry Wills and Hutchison Harness. He has five wins in 11 seasonal starts, including a victory in the fifth leg of the OHSS. He owns a career record of 6-8-1 in 18 starts with more than $180,000 in earnings and a lifetime mark of 1:49.1. When Is Parade, also a winner in the fifth leg, is trained by Ron Burke. Up In Place (Tim Tetrick), a Marvin Luna trainee with three OHSS wins this year, is six-for-six this season and listed at 4-1 odds on the morning line after drawing post seven.

Freshman Filly Trot

Made For More (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) is the 5-2 morning line favourite after drawing the rail. The Vernon Beachy trainee is a two-time winner in the OHSS this season, recording victories in the third and fourth legs. The Long Tom filly is owned by Ohio's John Schlabach and has hit the board in all seven seasonal starts with four wins and three seconds to go with nearly $300,000 in earnings. Her lifetime mark of 1:54.1 was taken in the third leg of the OHSS. Marcus Melander trainee Blue Ranger (Aaron Merriman) is the 3-1 second choice and will leave from post five. Secrets Ilia (Brett Miller), a Micah Miller trainee with three OHSS wins this season, will leave from post eight.

Freshman Filly Pace

Despite drawing the far outside post, Tempting Flames (David Miller) is the early favourite at 9-5 ahead of 3-1 second choice Cleveland Darby (Chris Page). Tempting Flames is a four-time winner in the OHSS this season and her lifetime mark of 1:50 in the fourth leg at Scioto Downs was a track record for sophomore filly pacers and equalled the world record for that division on a five-eighths-mile track. Owned by Maine's William Hartt and trained by Michael Hitchcock, she has hit the board in all seven seasonal starts with five wins and two seconds while banking more than $300,000. Cleveland Darby is trained by Ron Burke and will leave from post seven. Joe Bongiorno trainee Party Up (Luke Hanners) is a three-time OHSS winner and the lone horse to defeat Tempting Flames in the series this year. The Lather Up filly will leave from post six.

Freshman Colt Trot

Three Ready For Moni geldings — Iluvmymoni, Mind On My Moni and Debt Free — highlight the freshman colt trot division as winners of three legs. Debt Free (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) is the 9-5 favourite and will leave from post three. The Ready For Moni gelding is trained by Vernon Beachy for Ohio's 518 Group, Gitup Racing and Ryan Smith and Pennsylvania's Todd’s Auto. He has hit the board in all six seasonal starts with four wins, one second and one third to go with more than $200,000 in earnings. His OHSS victories were in the third, fourth and fifth legs, the latter of which was in a lifetime mark of 1:54.1. Stablemate Mind On My Moni (Mike Wilder) and Steve Carter trainee Iluvmymoni (David Miller) opened as the co-second choice at 5-2 and will leave from posts two and one, respectively. Mind On My Moni set a new track record of 1:53.3 at Scioto in the third leg of the OHSS and Iluvmymoni’s 1:54.3 in the fourth leg was a track record and world record for freshman gelded trotters on a half-mile track.

Freshman Colt Pace

Donttruckwithme, Night Surfer and Jett James scored three wins apiece through five legs of the OHSS this year. Jett James (Brett Miller) is the favourite at 5-2 after drawing post four. The Monte Miki gelding is owned and trained by Ohio's Adam Short. He has a 5-1-2 record in eight seasonal starts with more than $200,000 in earnings. His lifetime mark of 1:51.1 was taken in the fourth leg of the OHSS in between victories in the third and fifth legs. Virgil Morgan Jr. trainee Night Surfer (Luke Hanners) is the 3-1 second choice and will leave from the far outside. Donttruckwithme (Chris Lems), trained by Daren Harvey, drew post three and is listed at 7-2 odds in the morning line.

A Super Weekend In Ohio

Ohio’s Super Night has turned into an Ohio super weekend with the eight $300,000 USD Scarlet Championship races to crown Ohio’s best will be on Saturday and eight $100,000 USD Gray Championship races on Friday, Sept 11.

Saturday’s race card will also include the $250,000 USD Charlie Hill Memorial Trot (Grade 2) and the $260,000 USD Jim Ewart Memorial Pace (USD). Both races are stops on the prestigious Grand Circuit schedule.

All horses racing in the 16 Championship races, the Charlie Hill and Jim Ewart Memorials are required to report to the Scioto Downs paddock at least six hours prior to their race post.

Saturday’s race card will also have family fun activities surrounding the grandstand, including an obstacle course bounce house for kids, t-shirt tosses, an OHSS swag giveaway, a photo booth located inside the north clubhouse entrance and a tumbler cup giveaway with program purchase.

For wagering customers, there will be multiple guarantees and a second chance drawing for those on-track for a chance to win a $100 USD win wager on a designated race. The three multi-race guarantees on Saturday, each having a 14 per cent takeout, include the Early Pick-4 starting in race seven with a $10,000 USD guarantee, the Pick-5 starting in race 11 with a $7,500 guarantee and a Late Pick-4 starting in race 13 with a $15,000 USD guarantee,

The Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association (OHHA) will live stream “Saturday Night at the Races” presented by the Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center on Saturday from Scioto. The live stream, which can be seen on the OHHA YouTube channel, will begin at approximately 6:15 p.m. and includes coverage of all eight Scarlet Championships as well as the Charlie Hill and Jim Ewart Memorials. The OHHA’s Ashley Dailey will be joined by Jay Wolf as hosts of the “Saturday Night at the Races” coverage. “Saturday Night at the Races” is sponsored by Dublin Valley Farms, Hickory Lane Farm, Little Brown Jug and North American Standardbred Sale.

Half of Saturday’s race card will be broadcast on Fox Sports 2 from 7:30-11 p.m. Gabe Prewitt and Jessica Otten will be hosting live from Scioto.

(With files from Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association & Scioto Downs)