After setting a Scioto Downs track record for a three-year-old trotting colt in his last start, Big Ranger sliced another four-fifths of a second off that mark as he made his first start for trainer Anette Lorentzon in the Ohio Sires Stakes (OHSS) on Saturday, June 13.
Tim Tetrick got the call to drive Big Ranger in the $104,167 second division, and the pair got away third off the car from post three but moved up to second with the break of leading Grape Crush (Brett Miller) at the :26.3 opening quarter. Tetrick pulled Big Ranger heading to the half in :56, and the colt took command and sprinted to three-quarters in 1:22.4. Big Ranger then sailed home under no Tetrick urging to win by 4-3/4 lengths in 1:50.3, lowering his two-week-old record. Tom Largo (Chris Lems) finished second, followed by Rose Run Boom (Luke Hanners).
Big Ranger is now three-for-five this season with two OHSS wins and a victory in the Oak Grove Trotting Derby Silver Consolation. The son of In Range-Big Blue Bird is owned by Madison Global, who sent him to Lorentzon from the barn of Ronnie Gillespie following his May 25 win. The colt, who won all seven starts as a rookie and emerged as an OHSS champion, is 10-for-12 lifetime with $672,262 in earnings. He paid $2.20 to win.
The first OHSS division went to Soulful Saul and Luke Hanners in 1:53.3. The pair went straight to the top, led through fractions of :28, :57.3 and 1:25, and kicked away by 2-3/4 lengths over Knob Creek Moni (Trevor Smith), with Water Slide (Brett Miller) finishing third.
Soulful Saul bagged his first seasonal victory in four attempts for trainer Steve Carter. The gelded son of Ready For Moni-Celebrity Obsession improved to five-for-18 lifetime with his second career OHSS score. He is owned by Jay Mossbarger, Peggy Carter and Philip Skinner. The win price was $4.80.
Saturday’s card also hosted the $41,667 Jerry Knappenberger Pace final for non-winners-of-one Ohio-sired male pacers five years old and younger. Sunnys In The Sea ($4.20) turned a perfect pocket trip into a maiden-breaking victory, crossing the line first in 1:52. Tyler Smith piloted the Downbytheseaside-The Bomb Dottie gelding for trainer Ron Steck, who co-owns the sophomore with Bootville Stables LLC and Jeffrey Breece. Sunnys In The Sea beat Eddie Nine Toes (Brett Miller) by a neck, with Sum Kind Of Fire (Chris Page) third.
(With files from Scioto Downs)