A total of $600,000 USD will be on the line in the Buckeye Stallion Series Finals on Saturday, Oct. 5 at Hollywood Dayton Raceway. Eight divisions will each carry a purse of $75,000 USD.
Seventy-two starters will comprise the eight divisions of freshman and sophomore trotters and pacers. To be eligible to enter the final, horses must have raced in at least two of five Buckeye Stallion Series (BSS) legs. The nine highest point earners of those entered into the final are selected as starters.
Two-year-old filly trotters will kick off the night. Dublins Dragonfly will look for back-to-back wins as the 5-2 morning line favourite. The Virgil Morgan, Jr. trainee has notched two series victories while competing in legs of both the Buckeye Stallion Series and Ohio Sires Stakes. The Volstead filly has earned $53,486. Dan Noble is slated to drive Dublin’s Dragonfly.
Countonluna, the divisional point leader, is the 7-2 second choice. The daughter of Full Count has won three legs of the BSS. Daren Harvey trains and drives Countonluna.
Maddies Delite will headline the freshman filly pacers. The daughter of Lather Up is first in point standings after winning the first four legs in the series. With $111,082 in the bank, Maddies Delite has won 13 of 16 this season. Noble will drive the 5-2 favourite for trainer Steve Carter.
The 2-1 favourite, Vekna will look to overcome the ninth post position in the freshman colt trot division. After missing the first leg, Vekna has come into the Buckeye Stallion Series with a vengeance. He is four-for-four in the series. Vekna has bankrolled $69,785 after six consecutive wins. Kayne Kauffman trains and drives the gelded son of Enterprise.
In the division for two-year-old pacing colts, Alicia Hanners will send Twin B High Tide to the gate as the 5-2 favourite. The son of Downbytheseaside boasts the field’s fastest lifetime mark in 1:52.3. While alternating between the Buckeye Stallion Series and Ohio Sires Stakes, Twin B High Tide has earned $64,381 in three seasonal victories. Austin Hanners will drive Twin B High Tide.
Point leader Jbmagic sits at 12-1 on the morning line. He won the first three series legs. Tyler Bates trains the gelded son of Fear The Dragon while Tyler Smith is slated to drive.
Kicking off the sophomore divisions, Justasiam As is the 5-2 favourite for filly trotters. The daughter of Lionhunter won the 2023 Buckeye Stallion Series Final as a freshman. She continued to dominate the series this year, winning the two series legs that she competed in. Justasiam As has bankrolled $89,414 in seasonal earnings and $185,294 lifetime. Tony Hall will drive for Anette Lorentzon.
Westfiftyfive is the top divisional point earner. She is second choice in the morning lines at 3-1. The daughter of Long Tom has won two series legs. Chris Page will drive Westfiftyfive for Ron Steck,
Calypso Pearl is the heavy 8-5 favourite in the filly pace division. She has only scored in a single BSS victory but is a force to be reckoned with. Despite not starting as a freshman, the daughter Fear The Dragon has hit the board 14 of 15 tries as a sophomore. Calypso Pearl has earned $196,176 while competing in the Stallion Series and Ohio Sires Stakes. Noble will drive for Christi Noble.
Point leader Gone Coastal is 6-1 on the morning line. The Scott Betts trainee has won three legs in the series. Hunter Myers will guide the Downbytheseaside filly.
In the three-year-old colt trot division, Beaueastel is the 5-2 morning line favourite. The What The Hill gelding has won half of his 10 seasonal starts, including two series legs. Beaueastel claims a lifetime mark of 1:54.3 and has earned $80,137 this year. Peter Wrenn will drive for Melanie Wrenn.
Gypsy Hill is 8-1 on the morning line as the divisional point leader. As another gelded son of What The Hill, Gypsy Hill has won three legs of the BSS. Smith will get the call for Jason Brewer.
In the final division, What An Ocean View will headline sophomore colt pacers as the 5-2 favourite. The gelded son of Downbytheseaside won the first three legs of the series. Despite a slower start to his freshman year, What An Ocean View has earned $127,732 this season. Myers will drive What An Ocean View from the seventh post position for Ron Burke.
Dancin Moon is the leading point earner. At 6-1, Dancin Moon has scored three BSS victories. Eric Goodell will drive the gelded son of Dancin Yankee for Herman Hagerman.
The Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association (OHHA) will livestream the Buckeye Stallion Series Finals from Dayton Raceway as part of Saturday Night at the Races. Saturday Night at the Races is presented by The Ohio State Veterinary Medical Center and sponsored by Dublin Valley Farms and the North American Standardbred Sales. Coverage of the eight finals will begin at 4:45 p.m. on the OHHA Facebook page, YouTube channel, and HarnessRacingOhio.com. First race post time at Dayton Raceway is 4:00 p.m.
(Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association)