It was a busy night of Buckeye Stallion Series action at MGM Northfield Park on Sunday, Aug. 13. Nine $20,000 races were contested. Five divisions of two-year-old colt pacers and four divisions of three-year-old colt trotters went to the gate. Dan Noble was the only driver or trainer to record two wins.
In the first division for freshman colt pacers, Hi Ho Silver, with Noble, and Dragons R Fearless, with Chris Lems, went back and forth battling for the lead before Hi Ho Silver took control at the top of the stretch and hung on to win by a 1-1/4 lengths in a new lifetime mark of 1:53.1. It was the second win in five starts for the son of Downbytheseaside. Hi Ho Silver is trained by Christi Noble and owned by Dennis Owens, Wall Bros Stable, Norman Rae Racing and James Morris. Dragons Bettor finished second with Dragons R Fearless third
Up The Thrill, with Cam McCown, sat in the pocket until the top of the stretch and then made his move passing Attention Span and Brady Galliers mid-stretch to win by a length in 1:54.4, a new lifetime mark. Trained by Brian Brown and owned by Hutchison Harness, the Lather Up colt won for the second time in six starts. Attention Span was second with Vintage Ace third.
In the third division, No Joke Folks, with Scott Cisco, was first-up at the half and sat parked the rest of the mile but rallied down the stretch to nip Seeuatthesmoke and Kurt Sugg at the wire to win for the first time in his career in 1:55.4. The son of Well Said is owned and trained by John Raynard. Nakedatthebar finished third.
The fourth division was dominated by Well Thats Marky (pictured above) and Noble. After sitting fifth at the half, Noble took the son of Well Said three-wide up the backstretch and blew by the field, cruising to an 11-1/4-length win in 1:52.1 for his first career win. Well Thats Marky is trained by Melby Ober Jr. and owned by Matt Rowe. He has hit the board in five of six starts. My Legend was second with Rose Run Zoar finishing third.
In the final division, Noble Dale with Elliott Deaton took the pocket trip, swung wide around the final turn and passed the favoured leader Dragon You Along and Hunter Myers down the stretch to win by 3-1/4 lengths in 1:52.3. The 17-1 upset was the first win in six starts for The Panderosa gelding, who is trained by Daren Harvey and owned by Wayne Mast Jr. and Jonathan Mast. Bettor Sea finished third.
In the first division for sophomore colt trotters, Long Time Jess and Don Irvine Jr. stalked Covid Cartel and Eric Tharps Jr. through the first three quarters and swept around the leader at the top of the stretch, drawing away to win by three lengths in 1:55.2. The win was the fifth this year in 17 starts for the Rosy Weaver trainee. The son of Long Tom is owned by Weaver and Heartland Acres. Covid Cartel was second while Gotta Have Rhythm finished third.
Johnnyreds Victory also won for the fifth time this year as he won the second division. The son of What The Hill and Chris Lems rallied from fourth with a three-wide move around the final turn and charged down the lane to win by a neck in 1:55.3. It was the second Stallion Series win of the night for owners Mast Jr. and Mast. Scott Cox was the winning trainer. Free Born was second with Sunrise Hill finishing third.
In the third division, Grand Revival and Chris Page swung three-wide at the top of the stretch and reeled in the leaders to win by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:56. Trained by Steve Carter, the Creatine gelding has hit the board in seven of nine starts, winning five. Grand Revival is owned by Jeff Fought Racing, Brian Carsey and Adam Friedland. Mr Roofer finished second with Just B Ian third.
The final division for the three-year-old colt trotters went to Bidenurtime and trainer/driver Sandy Beatty. Bidenurtime sat fifth at the half and charged up the backstretch into second, rallying past the lead Senterprise and Noble at the wire to win by a half-length in 1:54.2. The win was the eighth in 17 starts for the son of Creatine who was unraced as a two-year-old. The winner is owned by Roger Wallace and Larry Riffe. Senterprise hung on for second with Great Career third.
Buckeye Stallion Series action resumes on Tuesday night at Eldorado Scioto Downs with the fourth leg for two-year-old filly pacers.
(With files from Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association)