The 2023 Buckeye Stallion Series wrapped up in style on Saturday (Sept. 30) at Hollywood Dayton Raceway as Justasiam AS set a new track record and trainer Melby Ober Jr. claimed two of the $75,000 Stallion Series titles.
In the two-year-old filly trot final, Justasiam AS with Tony Hall was sixth after the first quarter, fought through traffic up the backstretch and finally found racing room around the final turn. Hall pulled the daughter of Lionhunter three at the top of the stretch and drove down the line to win in 1:54.4, a new track record for freshman filly trotters. Jurassic Hattie finished second with Hot Tea third.
Justasiam AS is trained by Anette Lorentzon and owned by ACL Stuteri AB. The win was the filly's fourth win in nine starts and raised her earnings to $94,630.
Ober Jr. picked up the first of his two titles for owner Matt Rowe in the three-year-old filly pace. Beautiful Seaside, a Rowe homebred, with Brett Miller, grabbed the lead just past the first quarter and held off a late rally from Stormy Serena to win in 1:50.3. Onederfulbeach finished in third.
The daughter of Downbytheseaside earned her 10th win of the year from 19 starts. She has earned $134,010 this year.
The second title for Ober Jr. and Rowe came in two-year-old colt pace with another homebred. Well Thats Marky and Chris Page grabbed the lead heading the half-mile and held on down the stretch to win by a nose in a photo with Seeuatthesmoke in 1:53.2. Finishing third was Dragon You Along.
The Well Said gelding has hit the board in nine of 10 races this year, winning four. Well Thats Marky has now earned $82,060 this year.
Naked On A Hill had to rally from the back of the pack to claim the two-year-old filly pacing title. Jeff Nisonger took the Nob Hill High filly to the lead heading to three-quarters and held off the 1-5 favourite Illegal down the stretch to win by a head in 1:52.4. Fear Of Moonlight was third.
Naked On A Hill has hit the board in all 10 of her starts, winning five. Trained by Mark Winters and owned by Dennis Shaner, Naked On A Hill has earned $81,4454.
The two-year-old colt trot title went to Be Not Beastly. Be Not Beastly and Chris Lems sat patiently in third until the top of the stretch. Lems dipped the son of What The Hill to the inside and charged to the line winning by a half-length in 1:57.1. Bob Da Bomber was second with Irresistible was third.
Owned by Michael Soehnien, Be Not Beastly raised his earnings to $69,255 and win tally to two for the year from nine outings. Scott Cox trains the winner.
Senterprise and Dan Noble rallied from three lengths back around the final turn and reeled in Asian Zing late in the stretch to win by half a length in 1:54.4 to claim the three-year-old trotting championship. Long Tom Jess finished third.
Unraced as a two-year-old, Senterprise is trained by Christi Noble and owned by Dennis Owens, Norman Rae Racing and James Morris. The Enterprise gelding has earned $104,315 this year with five wins in 18 starts.
In the three-year-old colt pace, Liteningonthebeach, with Dexter Dunn, raced to the lead just past the quarter and held off a hard-charging Donttouchmytruck at the wire to win by nose in 1:50.2. Trooper L was third.
Brian Brown trains Liteningonthebeach for owners Country Club Acres Joe, Sbrocco, Acadia Farms and Rich Lombardo. The son of Downbytheseaside has earned $168,850 with 10 wins in 18 starts.
The final Buckeye Stallion Series championship of the night, the three-year-old filly trot, went to Vintage and Sam Widger. Widger took the Creatine filly to the lead and never looked back, cruising to a three-length, gate-to-wire win in 1:55.2. Waddupgee was second with Golden Endeavor third.
Trained by John Ryan Melsheimer and owned by Joyce McClelland and Mel Rose Stable, Vintage has earned $78,865 this year with four wins in a dozen starts.
(With files from Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association)