A dead heat between Come N Get Me and Okay One More highlighted four $27,397 divisions of the third leg of the Buckeye Stallion Series for freshman colt trotters at MGM Northfield Park on Wednesday, Aug. 13.
Come N Get Me (Justin Irvine) and Okay One More (Aaron Merriman) tripped the wire in 2:01 to win the evening's second division by two lengths over third-place Rudedude L (Hank LeVan).
Okay One More has four wins in five career starts and is now a two-time winner in the Buckeye Stallion Series, adding Wednesday’s victory to one in the second leg at Scioto Downs in a lifetime-best 1:59.3. The Triumphant Caviar-Centerfold Lady gelding is trained by Chris Beaver, who co-owns with Tim Homan of Mainville, Ohio, Leo Fleming of Campbellville, Ont., and Bill Manes of Rockwood, Ont.
It was the first career win for Come N Get Me, who was making his fourth start. The In Range-Karens Lady colt is trained by Ron Burke for owners Burke Racing Stable of Fredericktown, Pennsylvania, Hatfield Stables of Columbus, Ohio, Knox Services of Mt. Vernon, Ohio and RAS Racing of Powell, Ohio.
Okay One More left from post seven and led through the first three calls in fractions of :30.1, 1:01.2 and 1:31. After moving third-over, Come N Get Me was more than four lengths back in sixth place at the three-quarter pole. Come N Get Me went to the far outside down the final stretch and a strong burst of closing speed pulled him even with Okay One More at the line in the photo finish. Okay One More was sent off at 11-1 odds, while Come N Get Me was at 15-1.
Ready Made (Sandy Beatty) joined Okay One More in getting his second Buckeye win of the season, winning in a lifetime-best 1:59.4. The Dustin Arledge trainee also won a division of the first leg at Bucyrus in 2:06.2. In addition to his two wins, the Ready For Moni-Pearl Axe IT gelding has one second and one third, hitting the board in all four career starts. He is owned by Arledge and Jim Winske of Marlborough, Massachusetts.
In yet another close finish, Ready Made edged second-leg winner Perfect Range (Luke Hanners) by a neck as both horses crossed the line in 1:59.4. Drivinthrusmoke (Emanuel Miller) was third. Perfect Range left from post five and led the field through the first three calls with fractions of :28.2, :59.3 and 1:29.2. Sitting third at the first two calls, Ready Made moved first-over just past the halfway mark and trailed by less than a length at the three-quarter pole. Ready Made remained on the outside down the final stretch and was able to get past Perfect Range at the wire by a neck.
RGs Juggernaut (Luke Hanners), the 2-1 betting favourite in the his division, rallied from sixth place at the halfway mark to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:59. Mile Range (Carson Conrad) led the way through fractions of :29, :58.4 and 1:29. RGs Juggernaut was second-over going to the third quarter mark before making it three-wide and rounding the final turn in second place by just a quarter-length. The Vernon Beachy trainee took the lead down the stretch as Moon Time Moni (Chris Lems) rallied from sixth at the three-quarter pole to finish second on the far outside. Mile Range was third.
RGs Juggernaut was victorious for the first time in just his second start. The Long Tom-Rose Run Keepsake gelding is owned by Richard Gutnick of Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, Thomas Pantone of Holmdel, New Jersey and Steven Cross and Macedonia, Ohio.
Another Long Tom gelding, Tom Largo (Chris Lems), posted the fastest mile among the four Buckeye races, winning his division as the 1-9 betting favourite in 1:57.1, matching his lifetime best. The Scott Cox trainee was in fifth place as the field crossed the quarter pole in :28.2 before moving first-over and taking the lead at the half in :58.2. He led the rest of the way, crossing the three-quarter pole in 1:27.4 en route to winning by three lengths. Jackie Jann (Wilbur Yoder) was second followed by Longtimecomin (Justin Irvine) in third.
Also a winner in the Ohio State Fair Stakes at Scioto on July 31, Tom Largo has three victories in five starts. The colt out of Smith Hall is owned by Jughead Stables of Strongsville, Ohio and G Peters of Akron, Ohio.
The 2025 Buckeye Stallion Series for freshman colt trotters continues with the fourth leg on Aug. 26 at Scioto.
(With files from Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association; photo of Okay One More [7] and Come N Get Me [4] in the winner's circle)