A pair of kings, King Klueber and Kings Cruiser, won for the second time this year in the Buckeye Stallion Series (BSS) as the series returned to Eldorado Scioto Downs on Saturday (Aug. 28). Four divisions of three-year-old pacing colts and geldings went head-to-head with each division won going gate to wire.
King Klueber and Kayne Kauffman took the third division in 1:53. From post 2, the pair briefly sat in the pocket before taking the front midway through the first turn. The Bruce Sturgeon trainee cut fractions of :27.3, :56.1 and 1:23.4 to win by a nose over Rockinmyshoe and Barnard Hanover. Karen Heaberlin and Sturgeon own the Allamerican Native gelding who has now hit the board in 12 of 16 starts after not racing as a two-year-old. He was a winner in the second leg of the BSS on July 4 at MGM Northfield Park.
The fourth division was won by Kings Cruiser, with Tyler Smith in the sulky for trainer Jeff Nisonger in 1:51.2. After cutting fractions of :27.3, :56.1 and 1:23.4, they won by 2-1/4 lengths over Feelin Western and Hardt At Work. Kings Cruiser, a Yankee Cruiser gelding, is owned by Mark Ater and had won three in a row on the Ohio fair circuit; four starts back, he had finished second in BSS at Northfield. He was a winner in the first leg of the series.
Odds On Pick Six won the first division in 1:50.2. Ronnie Wrenn, Jr. took the son of Racing Hill straight to the front from post 2 and led at every fraction of :27.1, :56.2 and 1:23.2 to win by 9-3/4 lengths for trainer Melanie Wrenn and owner Odds On Racing. Knight on Ice was second and Brighter Days finished third.
The second division was won by Sir Charles Of Sky in 1:51.1. Chris Page took his time with the Ron Burke trainee, getting him to the front midway through the first turn to fractions of :27.1, :56 and 1:23. Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi own the gelding who is now 1 for 1 after switching barns. Caviart Sargent was second with JWs Chrome finishing third.
The Buckeye Stallion Series will return to Eldorado Scioto Downs on Sept. 3 for the two-year-old colt trot and Sept. 4 for the three-year-old colt trot. First-race post time is 6:15 p.m. (EDT).
(OHHA)