Freshman filly pacers were in action on Tuesday, Aug. 15 at Eldorado Scioto Downs for four $20,000 divisions of the Buckeye Stallion Series. Kayne Kauffman drove Illegal to her third win in the Buckeye Stallion Series as he won two of the four series races.
Kauffman won his first Buckeye Stallion Series race of the night in the third division when he drove Illegal to a gate-to-wire victory in a new lifetime mark of 1:53.4. Kauffman took the 1-5 favourite to lead and cruised to an easy 3-1/2-length win for trainer Mike Polhamus. The daughter of Western Vintage has hit the board in all four starts, winning three all in the Buckeye Stallion Series. Owned by Polhamus and Kevin Quinn, Illegal has earned $44,235 in 2023. Fear Of Moonlight finished second with Strictly Perfect third.
The second win of the night for Kauffman came in the final division with Cruisin Dragon. The Fear The Dragon filly took the pocket trip and fired down the passing lane catching even-money favourite Rock Ur Wings mid-stretch, winning by two lengths in 1:55.1, a new lifetime mark. It was the third win in six starts for Cruisin Dragon, who is trained by Kelly O’Donnell and owned by Emerald Highland Farm. Talkintothemoon was third.
In the first division, Bug Juice with Cam McCown sat last in the nine-horse field, 15-1/4 lengths back at the half. The Bit Of A Legend N filly started to make her move through the field up the backstretch. Around the final turn, Bug Juice went five-wide, grabbing the lead at the top of the stretch and drawing away to win by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:55.2 for trainer Brian Brown. It was the second win in six starts for Bug Juice, who is owned by Jennifer Brown. Sistermarystigmata was second with Appeasement third
Ken Holliday took Sarah Said to the lead and never looked back, going wire-to-wire to win the second division in a new lifetime mark of 1:53.2. The daughter of Well Said fought off a challenge from Im A Beach Lady around the final turn and held off Naked On A Hill down the stretch to win for the third time this year in six starts. Garry Martin trains and co-owns Sarah Said with B Kleinberg Racing and Lee Unkefer. Naked On A Hill finished second with Hot Shave getting up for third.
Buckeye Stallion Series action resumes on Thursday night at Eldorado Scioto Downs with the fourth leg for two-year-old colt trotters.
(Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association)