The second leg of the Buckeye Stallion Series for three-year-old trotting fillies produced only one repeat winner as Esteso rallied down the stretch to win one of the three $27,397 divisions on Wednesday, June 12 at Northfield Park.
Esteso, with Chris Lems, took the pocket trip behind Home Run Queen and Daren Harvey in her division. Around the final turn, Lems swung the Creatine filly wide and charged down the lane catching Homerun Queen at the wire to win by half a length in 1:58.3. Esteso has now won half of her sophomore starts for trainer Dalton Walls, who co-owns the filly with Bruce Soulsby and Alan Weisenberg. Sister Wives finished third.
In and earlier division, Madame Pele, with Luke Ebersole, also took the pocket trip on the way to the winner’s circle. Madame Pele followed Big Dreams Count and Hunter Myers until the top of the stretch when Ebersole took Madame Pele down the passing lane on the way to a one-length victory in 1:57, a new lifetime mark. It was the first win of the year in six starts for the daughter of Creatine. Jessica Smith trains, owns and bred Madame Pele. Westfiftyfive finished third.
In the other division, Osaka Hall with Myers grabbed the lead at the quarter pole and cruised to a three-quarter-length victory in 1:59.3 for trainer Brian Georges. The win was the second of the year from seven starts for the Uncle Peter filly. Osaka Hall is owned by Phillip Groves and Myron Koester. Tammie Sue finished second with Kaminari third.
Leg one winner Maxines Hill was not entered in the second leg of the Buckeye Stallion Series, while two other first leg winners, Sugar Instead and Justasiam AS, have set their sights on leg two of the Ohio Sires Stakes for sophomore filly trotters.
The second leg of the Ohio Sires Stakes for three-year-old filly trotters is Friday, June 14 at Eldorado Scioto Downs. The 16-race card also includes five divisions of the Buckeye Stallion Series for three-year-old colt trotters.
(With files from Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association)