With three legs of the Ohio Sires Stakes for sophomores already in the books, the freshmen will open their 2025 OHSS schedule on Saturday, July 12 as part of a 16-race card at Eldorado Scioto Downs.
There will be four divisions of two-year-old filly trotters with 34 total starters and four divisions of two-year-old male trotters with 31 total starters. Each division carries a purse of $50,000 USD.
Big Ranger (pictured above) headlines this group after winning the $202,703 Next Generation for two-year-old colt trotters at Scioto Downs on July 5. Trainer Ronnie Gillespie drove him to victory in 1:54, setting a new track record for freshman colt trotters, and will be in the sulky again on Saturday. Owned by Madison Global, the In Range colt is the even-money morning line favorite in the first division and will leave from post five. A pair of Chris Beaver trainees, Special Moni (Tyler Smith) and Buckeye Triumphs (Aaron Merriman) share 5-1 odds as the second choice in this division.
The early 2-1 favourite in the second division of colt trotters, Rose Run Banker, will leave from the far outside with Chris Page driving for Ron Burke. In his lone prior start this season, Rose Run Banker finished third in the Next Generation in 1:54.4 with Page in the sulky. Another son of In Range, Rose Run Banker is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Hatfield Stables, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, and Knox Services. The 7-2 second choice in this division is the Beaver-trained Okay One More (Merriman).
At 6-5, Super Mind enters as the morning-line favourite in the third division. Super Mind won his lone prior start this season, posting a time of 1:56 at The Meadows on July 4 with Anthony MacDonald in the bike. MacDonald will drive the Creatine gelding again on Saturday. The Jason McGinnis trainee is owned by Thestable Super Mind. The Beaver-trained Drivinthrusmoke (Dan Noble) is the 2-1 second choice in this division.
The fourth division is the only one to feature multiple horses with wins on their resumes, as High Range, Max The Mighty, Ready Russell, and Uncle Danny each boast one victory thus far. Ready Russell (Noble) is the early 6-5 favourite. The gelded son of Ready For Moni is perfect this year after posting a victory in 1:56.2 with Brett Miller at Scioto on July 3. He is trained by Deborah Swartz and owned by Jeff Fought Racing, Brian Carsey, and David Fought. The Beaver-trained Max The Mighty (Merriman) is the 9-5 second choice in this division.
Demonic Niko and Speedbewithyou headline the filly trotter entrants on Saturday as top-three finishers in their division of the Next Generation.
Demonic Niko is the even-money morning line favourite in the third division. She was the Next Generation runner-up, finishing in 1:56.4 just one length back of winner Setyoursightshigh. In her other start this season, the In Range filly won in 1:58 at Oak Grove on June 23. Atlee Bender was in the sulky for both of those starts and will drive the Erv Miller trainee again on Saturday. Demonic Niko is owned by Ervin Miller Stable, Anthony Lombardi, and Doug Overhiser. She will leave from post five alongside 3-1 second choice, Rosy Weaver trainee Princess Karolyn (Justin Irvine) in post four.
Speedbewithyou is the early 7-2 favourite in the second division. She posted a third-place finish in 1:57 in the Next Generation in her lone prior start this season. Austin Hanners was in the sulky that night and will again drive the Mission Accepted filly on Saturday for trainer Todd Luther. Speedbewithyou is owned by Greg Luther Racing and David Wills. The Bucky Troute-trained Cantina Moni (Noble) and the Beaver-trained Keen Senses (Merriman), share 4-1 odds as the second choice in this division.
Virgil Morgan Jr. trainee Lindy Princess is the 5-2 morning line favourite in the first division. Brett Miller will drive the Ready For Moni filly, who finished second in her lone prior start this season. She is owned by JoyceA McClelland Stable, Larry Wills, and Enviro Stables. Can She Cancan (Jeff Nisonger) is the 3-1 second choice in this division. The Mark Winters trainee has two wins in three starts this season.
Toms Babe is one-for-one this season and is the 9-5 morning-line favourite in the fourth division. Jeremy Smith drove her to victory in 1:56.3 at Scioto on July 1 and returns to the sulky on Saturday for trainer Jason Borowski. The Long Tom filly is owned by J&J Standardbreds. The 3-1 second choice in this division, Sarahs Mission (Page), is trained by Burke and will leave from the rail.
Saturday’s card at Eldorado Scioto Downs also features a $26,000 USD Open for horses and geldings and a $20,000 USD Open II for horses and geldings. First race post time is 5:45 p.m.
The opening leg of the OHSS for freshmen colt and filly pacers is scheduled for Sunday, July 13 as part of a 15-race card at MGM Northfield Park beginning at 6 p.m.
(Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association)