Five divisions of the Buckeye Stallion Series for two-year-old trotting fillies went to post on Thursday, Aug. 20 at Eldorado Scioto Downs. Each of the $27,778 events were won by fillies by different sires, with homebreds Aunt Jessie (Action Uncle-Jessiesexpresslane) and Sweet Stevie (Global Republic S-Jogging Sweets) winning their splits in the fastest time – 1:56.2.
Aunt Jessie (Austin Hanners) went gate-to-wire for trainer Leroy Eicher, setting fractions of :28, :57.4 and 1:26.2. Aunt Jessie broke her maiden as she won by three-quarters of a length over Center Field Lady (Luke Hanners); Soaring Sophia (Ronnie Gillespie) was third. Owned by breeder Lavern Hostetler, Aunt Jessie now has $25,899 earned in six starts.
Sweet Stevie (Kurt Sugg) won her division by seven lengths. She briefly gave way to Seven Lick Holiday (Tyler Smith) going to the :28 opening quarter before re-taking and setting the remaining fractions of :58 and 1:27.2. Dublins Ferani (Tyler Angus) came from the back of the pack to finish second with Seven Lick Holiday third. Sugg also trains the winning filly for owner/breeders Rebecca Sugg, Ashley Miller and Edward Miller. Sweet Stevie now has $70,299 earned and three wins in six starts.
Ds Alisson, by Ready For Moni-Stephanie Hill, won her division for driver Chris Lems after racing second-over from post eight to the :28.4 opening quarter and making the lead just before the :56.3 half. Leading to the 1:26 three-quarters, Ds Allison held off a passing-lane bid from Indigo Times (Kayne Kauffman), winning by half a length in 1:57.1 for trainer Scott Cox; Alleluia (Gillespie) was third. The win was Ds Alisson’s first in six starts for owners Wayne Mast Jr., Callam Racing LLC, Green Wave Racing LLC and Wayne Zollars. She has now earned $28,518.
Been Thru Hill won her division by two lengths in 1:57.3 for driver Carson Conrad and trainer Dalton Walls. Fired up going to the opening quarter, Been Thru Hill got there in :28 and continued to lead through fractions of :57.3 and 1:27. Pocket sitter Shes In My Range (Brett Miller) finished second, with Rollin Range (Gillespie) third. Been Thru Hill, by What The Hill-Trumpeter Swan, is a homebred for Charles Hartzell. The filly now has $41,286 earned in five starts, with three wins.
Rose Run Classy won her division by a half-length in 1:57.1 with driver David Miller at the lines. Getting away fifth from post six, Rose Run Classy sat until midway down the backstretch while On A Clear Day (Lems) set the fractions of :28.1, :57.4 and 1:27.1. Making her move second-over, Rose Run Classy patiently waited until the top of the stretch to make her final move for the victory. Volonce Muscle (Brett Miller) was second with Sweet Valorie (Luke Hanners) third. By Long Tom-Lady Kolette, Rose Run Classy now has $39,130 earned with two wins in six starts for trainer Matthew Burkholder, who shares ownership with Dark Horse Farm and Enos Miller.
Racing continues at Scioto on Friday with a 16-race card, including the $25,000 USD Fillies and Mares Open as the seventh race. First post is 5:25 p.m.
(With files from Scioto Downs; photo of Aunt Jessie winning on Aug. 20)