Three of the four winners from the first leg of the Buckeye Stallion Series for sophomore filly pacers are entered in the second leg at Eldorado Scioto Downs on Friday, June 5. However, just one — Climate — is the morning line favourite in her division.
“She’s good gaited,” trainer Joe Seekman said of Climate. “She’s had some tie-up issues that we’ve worked through, but all in all, she’s a pretty nice filly.”
Climate is the morning line favourite in the fifth of five $20,000 USD divisions of the second leg for three-year-old filly pacers that are part of Friday’s 16-race card with a post time of 5:25 p.m. She will leave from post four with Marvin Luna in the sulky. Owned by L&L Devisser of Holland, Michigan, the Downbytheseaside-Compass filly has hit the board in five of seven starts this year with two wins and $31,846 in earnings, representing a marked improvement from her freshman campaign.
“It’s amazing how much they can grow up and mature as a three-year-old,” said Seekman. “She’s turned a big corner. She’s come back stronger.”
Climate was winless in five starts last year, when she notched a pair of runner-up finishes and banked just $6,035. Her strong start to the 2026 season included the victory in the opening leg of the Buckeye Stallion Series at Northfield Park on May 3 in a lifetime-best 1:53. That marked the fastest mile among the winners of the four divisions that night.
“That was a great mile for her. Chris [Page] drove her perfect that night,” said Seekman. “I was very excited to see her win the first leg like she did.”
The filly wasn’t able to carry that positive momentum forward, however, as she enters Friday’s race coming off matching 10th-place finishes in overnight races at Scioto Downs on May 21 when she broke stride at the start and on May 28 after racing second-over.
Looking to get back into the win column, Climate is the favourite at 5-2 on the morning line in her division. Shes Lit (Tyler Smith) and Sea Me (Luke Hanners) are co-second choice at 3-1 and will leave from the rail and post three, respectively. At 4-1, Mandaloun (Chris Page) will leave from post five alongside Climate.
Seekman said those 10th-place finishes were more a result of racing older horses and believes Climate’s status as the morning line favourite is deserved, especially considering that she paced in 1:52.3 her last time on the track.
“She’ll be back in with all three-year-olds, so I think she’ll be alright,” he said.
First Division
Shehasaway (Brett Miller) is the early 5-2 favourite and will leave from post four. Trained by Steve Bauder, the Summa Cum Laude filly has two wins and $89,252 in earnings in eight career starts. Jamie Amanda (Hanners), the 3-1 second choice, will leave from the rail. She finished as the runner-up to Climate in the opening leg. First-leg winner Cruzin Tothe Pier (Page) is the 9-2 third choice and will leave from post two.
Second Division
Beach Babe Hanover (Justin Irvine) is the 2-1 morning line favourite and will leave from post three. The Downbytheseaside filly trained by Sam Schillaci has hit the board in five of six seasonal starts and is four-for-16 lifetime with $83,980 in earnings. Captiva Seaside (Page) and Odds On Dividend (Hanners) are the co-second choice at 7-2 and will leave side by side from the rail and post two, respectively. First-leg winner Baxter Tough (Smith) drew the far outside post and is 8-1 on the morning line.
Third Division
Blood Queen (Luna) will leave from the inside post as the 8-5 morning line favourite. The Downbytheseaside filly and Ryan Miller trainee has hit the board in three of five seasonal starts and is four-for-10 lifetime with $63,017 in earnings. Juliet Capulet (Sam Widger) is the 7-2 second choice and will leave from post five.
Fourth Division
Zooom Call (Hanners), the 2-1 morning line favourite, will leave from post three. Trained by Virgil Morgan Jr., the Summa Cum Laude filly has one win and one second in three seasonal starts and is two-for-13 overall with $155,133 in the bank. Bad Girl Up (Smith) will leave alongside her in post four as the 5-2 second choice.
(With files from Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association)