Ohio Sires Stakes action for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings took center stage at Eldorado Scioto Downs on Saturday, Aug. 22 with two impressive gate-to-wire winners.
Night Surfer (Luke Hanners) got his race his way, setting fractions of :27.2, :56.4 and 1:25.4 before winning the $102,740 second division by a half-length in 1:52.2. Donttruckwithme (Chris Lems) was second with Atlantic Ivey (Marvin Luna) finishing third.
Night Surfer, a son of Downbytheseaside out of the Bettors Delight mare Dark Force, is now three-for-three with $162,370 in earnings for trainer Virgil Morgan Jr. and owners Let It Ride Stables Inc., Morrison Racing Stables and Steven Held. The win price was $2.60.
The win completed a triple on the card for perennial Scioto leading trainer Morgan. He also won the $35,616 Horses and Geldings Open Handicap Pace with Women Layer ($2.40) as the five-year-old Sweet Lou-Loreenas Ruffian gelding made front in the second quarter and strode to a one-length score in 1:50.4. Win Lous Or Draw (Cameron McCown) was second with Higher Ground (Tyler Smith) third. Women Layer, a winner in a Sam McKee Memorial division on Hambletonian Day, is now six-for-11 this year and 31-for-50 lifetime with $1,346,866 in earnings. He is owned by Let It Ride Stables Inc., Jeff Fought Racing and Larry Wills. The win payout was $2.40.
Morgan also won one of the three $27,397 Buckeye Stallion Series divisions for two-year-old male pacers with Sea Monster ($3) in 1:54.4. Luke Hanners piloted the Downbytheseaside-Dragon Lady colt to victory for Let It Ride Stables Inc., Wall Bros Stable, Hutchison Harness LLC and Dennis Owens. The trainer currently leads the Scioto standings as he aims for his 32nd straight title. He is 214-for-946 across all tracks this year.
Jett James (Brett Miller) won the first and fastest division in 1:51.1. The Mighty Brix (Tyler Smith) got the pocket trip while Jett James set the pace with :27.2, :56.2 and 1:24 splits. Coming home in :27.1, Jett James won by 2-3/4 lengths over The Mighty Brix; First Grade (Chris Page) was third.
Jett James, owned and trained by Adam Short, now has four wins in seven starts. The Monte Mike gelding out of the Western Ideal mare Albrizzi Hanover has earned $162,165. He paid $2.10 to win.
Into The Blaze ($2.60) took the fastest Buckeye Stallion Series, scoring in 1:53.3 with trainer Ronnie Gillespie in the sulky. The Catch The Fire-Bazooka Terror gelding won for owners Adam Friedland, Jacob Beard and Gillespie.
Passing Gear ($2.40) took his rivals all the way in the final division, with trainer-driver Kayne Kauffman overseeing a 1:54 victory. Redline Racing Stables LLC, Redracer LLC, David Van Dusen and Daniel Schrock own the Downbytheseaside-My Hare Lady gelding.
Live racing at Scioto will continue Tuesday, August 25 with a 15-race card starting at 5:25 p.m. There will also be four qualifiers that day starting at 3:15 p.m. which can be viewed on RTN.
(With files from Scioto Downs)