The curtain went up on the 2022 Buckeye Stallion Series at Miami Valley on Sunday (May 1). When the curtain closed on the premiere performance, 99 Buckeye-bred fillies had performed and 11 winners were declared winners.
Six divisions of sophomore pacing fillies were presented as well as five divisions for their counterparts, the second-year trotting fillies. Each event carried a $17,500 purse making the total B.S.S. bounty for the day $192,500.
Factory Girl (Tony Hall) won the first pacing split in 1:53.2, beating Fantasy Life by a long neck. Bowery finished third, giving Ohio super sire Downbytheseaside daughters a sweep of the trifecta. Steve Walters trains Factory Girl for the Lone Wolf Stable and Tar Heel Racing. It was the second win of her career and more than doubled her lifetime earnings.
Sleepwithoneyeopen (Dan Noble) led Nevada Rock and Pronto Tonto across the finish in the second division. The 1:54.3 score was the second ever for the daughter of Well Said who is trained by Clarence Foulk for the Foulk Stables and William Hartt. Sleepwithoneyeopen earned $21,050 in her winless freshman campaign, but has a pair of wins in four starts this year.
Prancing Queen (Noble) notched the fastest win with a convincing upset in 1:52.1. Mrs Teachy and Love Me Hill were next best. Scott Cox trains Prancing Queen, another daughter of Downbytheseaside, and co-owns her with Jason Ash and B. C. Parent. The quick clocking lowered the winner's best winning time by four full seconds.
Allnight Micki (Mike Wilder) lead the second sweep of the top three board finishes by topping Seaside Flirt and Mermaid By The Sea in a 1:54.1 mile. It was the third win for Allnight Micki, who is co-owned by trainer Tim Twaddle with the Micki Rae Stable. Bred by the Hanover Shoe Farm, the winner's lifetime bounty has swelled to $63,157.
When You Kiss Me (Tyler Smith) was dispatched as a heavy odds-on favorite and did not disappoint. The daughter of Arthur Blue Chip, a recent private purchase by the Bet The House LLC Stable, bested Coach Keri and Party Cruiser in 1:53.2. Jeff Smith trains When You Kiss Me, who now sports four wins and four place finishes in her first nine tries.
The final pacing division was captured by Spitting Image (Chris Page) with a 1:53.3 front stepping score over Ocean Music and McWitched. The Yankee Cruiser lass now shows three wins on the season and a bankroll exceeding $58,000 in your young career. Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi LLC bred and still own Spitting Image.
The first of five trotting divisions proved to be the fastest when Alana Hill (Brett Miller) lowered her lifetime mark to 1:55.4. The Virgil Morgan Jr. trainee beat Sweet On Pete and LBs Legacy for her sixth win — the first five as a two-year-old when the daughter of What The Hill earned $50,000. GC Gold Racing, Walnut View Farm and J. J. Schlabach co-own Alana Hill.
Gracious Triumph (Don Irvine Jr.) was an upset winner over Rosanna (Miller) and Madame Madelyn in the second split. Trainer Rosy Weaver and Heartland Acres co-own the daughter of Triumphant Caviar who broke her maiden in this event, clocking 1:59.3 and returning $35.60 to her mutuel backers.
Ill Annie Up (Chris Page), sired by Uncle Peter, lived up to her favouritism in the third division by beating Toscano Girl and Onetwoskipafew. With her third win in the books, the Ron Burke trained winner has banked an impressive $65,350 in her initial 10 starts.
Lady Is Great (Mike Wilder), a daughter of Creatine, was an upset winner — largely due to an outside post draw. This 1:58.2 win over Queens Future and favoured Miss Cowboy Star equaled Lady Is Great's previous best. Matthew Burkholder trains her for owner and breeder Acadia Farms.
Trainer Virgil Morgan Jr. got his second BSS win when Lady Camryn (Mitch Cushing) got the best of Wegothatsright and Flawless Wish in 1:58. Joyce and Richard McClelland bred the daughter of What The Hill, who was making her 2022 debut after winning $58,455 as a freshman.
Racing resumes Monday (May 2) at Miami Valley when Buckeye Stallion Series trotting colts will take center stage. Post time is 4:05 p.m. (EDT).
(Miami Valley Raceway)