Graded stakes action hits Eldorado Scioto Downs on Saturday, July 18 with four $100,000 USD Grade 3 events — the Nadia Lobell, Moni Maker, Cleopatra Invitational and #SendItIn Invitational.
The first of the headline events, the Nadia Lobell for three-year-old pacing fillies, will go off as Race 11. The Burke Brigade will send out four of the seven entries, including 3-1 morning-line favourite Im A Lou Lou (PP2, Tim Tetrick), winner of a Park MGM Pace division in June. Ohio-sired Seaside Shuffle (PP1, Ronnie Wrenn Jr., 5-1) and Laude Da (PP7, Yannick Gingras, 4-1) bookend the field for the Burke barn and are joined by stablemate Shacarri (Chris Page, 7-1) from post five. Topville Lucky (PP6, Dexter Dunn), coming in from the red-hot Andrew Harris stable, has been given a 4-1 billing.
$100,000 USD Nadia Lobell (G3)
Post - Horse - Driver - Trainer - Morning-Line Odds
1. Seaside Shuffle - Ronnie Wrenn Jr. - Ron Burke - 5-1
2. Im A Lou Lou - Tim Tetrick - Ron Burke - 3-1
3. Sangria Summer - Daniel Dube - Luc Blais - 9-2
4. Spoon Fed - David Miller - Doug Snyder - 9-1
5. Shacarri - Chris Page - Ron Burke - 7-1
6. Topville Lucky - Dexter Dunn - Andrew Harris - 4-1
7. Laude Da - Yannick Gingras - Ron Burke - 4-1
Going off as Race 12 is the Moni Maker for three-year-old trotting fillies. The 8-5 morning-line favourite is Victorianas Secret (PP4, Wrenn) from the Vernon Beachy barn. Beachy won the first Moni Maker event held at Scioto in 2024 with Allegiant. The trainer’s 2026 entrant is four-for-five so far this season with a win in the Currier & Ives. Sam Beegle brings over Ginger Tree Lex (PP2, Andrew McCarthy), who is the 5-2 morning-line second choice.
$100,000 USD Moni Maker (G3)
Post - Horse - Driver - Trainer - Morning-Line Odds
1. Godusa - David Miller - Nancy Takter - 5-1
2. Ginger Tree Lex - Andrew McCarthy - Sam Beegle - 5-2
3. Atlantic Summer - Chris Page - Ron Burke - 8-1
4. Victorianas Secret - Ronnie Wrenn Jr. - Vernon Beachy - 8-5
5. Guardian Doll - Ronnie Gillespie - Deborah Swartz - 7-1
6. Faster Horses - Todd McCarthy - Chris Beaver - 10-1
7. Joyofmylife As - Tony Hall - Anette Lorentzon - 12-1
The nine-horse Cleopatra for pacing mares will be Race 13 on the card. Miki And Minnie (Dunn), the fourth-ranked horse in the Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown top 10 poll, will leave from post three as the 5-2 morning-line favourite for trainer Chris Ryder. Three Times Bettor (Todd McCarthy), from the Brett Pelling barn, has been installed as the 3-1 second choice on the morning line from post five. Both Pelling and Ryder have won previous editions of the Cleopatra – Pelling with Test Of Faith in 2022, the inaugural year, and Ryder with Twin B Joe Fresh in 2024.
$100,000 USD Cleopatra Invitational (G3)
Post - Horse - Driver - Trainer - Morning-Line Odds
1. Always B Naughty - Austin Hanners - Todd Luther - 8-1
2. Racin Hungry - Tyler Smith - Jason Irwin - 12-1
3. Miki And Minnie - Dexter Dunn - Chris Ryder - 5-2
4. The Last Martini - Tim Tetrick - Jared Bako - 6-1
5. Three Times Bettor - Todd McCarthy - Brett Pelling - 3-1
6. Rose - Ronnie Wrenn Jr. - Ron Burke - 8-1
7. No Foolin April - Brett Miller - Adam Short - 12-1
8. Louies Girl N - Yannick Gingras - Per Engblom - 8-1
9. Caviart Delight - Luke Hanners - Virgil Morgan Jr. - 10-1
Race 14 is the #SendItIn Invitational, which has nine free-for-all pacers going to post. Charles Juravinski Memorial Cup winner Prince Hal Hanover (PP6, Todd McCarthy) enters for trainer Dr. Ian Moore and is the 7-2 morning line favourite. Dandy Ideal, coming off a world-record 1:47.2 win at Pocono Downs, has post three with Chris Page in the bike for trainer Hunter Oakes. He is the 4-1 second choice on the morning line. Harrisburg Heist (PP2, Wrenn, 5-1) has six wins in eight starts this season, including a Kentucky Sire Stakes final victory.
$100,000 USD #SendItIn Invitational (G3)
Post - Horse - Driver - Trainer - Morning-Line Odds
1. Maximus Miki - Andrew McCarthy - Tom Cancelliere - 6-1
2. Harrisburg Heist - Ronnie Wrenn Jr. - Ron Burke - 5-1
3. Dandy Ideal - Chris Page - Hunter Oakes - 4-1
4. Lou Hill - Yannick Gingras - Per Engblom - 9-2
5. Oakwood Heymiki Ir - Brett Miller - Robert Cleary - 8-1
6. Prince Hal Hanover - Todd McCarthy - Dr. Ian Moore - 7-2
7. Rock Shines Again - Dexter Dunn - Tyler George - 10-1
8. Win Lous Or Draw - Cameron McCown - Jessica McCown - 10-1
9. Best Chip - Tim Tetrick - Joe Bongiorno - 6-1
The events are part of an action-packed 17-race card, with Buckeye Stallion Series events for three-year-old trotters also featured. Before the races, there will be a driver autograph session near the winner’s circle from 4:40-5:15 p.m. A bounce house will also be available starting at 5 p.m. First post for the night will be 5:25 p.m.
Along with the pre-card driver autograph session, another promotion will be for the bettors — a second-chance drawing. Losing Saturday tickets can be dropped into the drum at the mutuel line in the grandstand for a chance to win a free bet for later that evening. Four winners will be selected after the 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th races to place a $250 USD win wager on the Nadia Lobell, Moni Maker, Cleopatra and #SendItIn races, respectively.
(With files from Scioto Downs)