Driver Brett Miller doubled up on Monday, July 22 as the second leg of the Buckeye Stallion Series for two-year-old colt pacers took the stage at MGM Northfield Park. Six divisions went to post, each carrying a purse of $27,397. Miller swept the first two divisions with Mr Mcdragon and Spartan Hill.
Miller and Mr Mcdragon (pictured above) refused to sit in the pocket, taking back the lead twice before the :28 opening panel in the first division. The son of Fear The Dragon pulled away to set remaining fractions in :58 and 1:26 before cruising across the finish line in 1:54. The 2-1/2-length victory marks the first career win in three starts for Mr Mcdragon. Steve Carter trains for Jeff Fought Racing, Adam Freidland, Hunter Holton and Ryan Holton. Johnny Up (Chris Lems) rallied for second while Seaside Star (Aaron Merriman) finished third.
Miller’s other win was in the second division with Spartan Hill in 1:55.3. The Racing Hill gelding grabbed the early lead but settled in behind the betting favourite, De Dragon (Luke Hanners), as the field moved toward the half. Spartan Hill changed gears at the top of the stretch, flying by to trip the wire a length in front for his fourth win in five starts. The Steve Novak trainee is owned by Gerald Mijal. De Dragon held on for second with The Onyx Dragon (Eric Goodell) third.
The duo of Chris Page and Ron Burke teamed up to take the third division with Oh Beach Please. Page gave Oh Beach Please a patient drive, sitting fourth along the rail until cover came along. The Fear The Dragon gelding dug in to win in 1:56.3 by a length. It was the pacer’s first victory in three attempts for owners Burke Racing Stable, Knox Services, J&T Silva – Purnel & Libby and R A S Racing. Up Again (Dan Noble) finished second and Fortunesfool (Tyler Smith) rounded out the top three.
Jon I Love Dat won the fourth division in wire-to-wire fashion in 1:55.3 by 2-3/4 lengths. Merriman guided the Downbytheseaside colt to set fractions in :27.4, :57.4 and 1:26.1. The victory marks the first win in two starts for Jon I Love Dat. Ryan Miller conditions the pacer for Robert Lovett. Butchershop Buck (Noble) was second with Fear The Thunder (Austin Hanners) in third.
In the fifth division, Catch The Express won by a nose in 1:55.4. Trainer/driver Ronnie Gillespie gave the son of Catch The Fire a conservative trip along the rail in his second career start. Catch The Express shook free at the top of the stretch to break his maiden in the final stride for owner Sam Bowie. Fond Of Dancin (Smith) finished second while Rose Run Ajay (Anthony MacDonald) held on for third.
Jbmagic (Luke Hanners) is two-for-two in the Buckeye Stallion Series after winning the sixth division in 1:55.1 by two lengths. Despite going three-wide at the quarter pole, the gelded son of Fear The Dragon held off all challengers. Trained by Tyler Bates, Jbmagic now has four victories in five starts for owner Robert Geist. Believe In Tom (Merriman) and Odds On Valhalla (Miller) finished second and third, respectively.
Buckeye Stallion Series action continues on Tuesday, July 23 at Eldorado Scioto Downs. Five divisions of the second leg for two-year-old filly trotters will go forth. First race post time is 5:45 p.m.
(With files from Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association)