Two-year-old colt pacers and filly trotters raced through the pouring rain in the third leg of the Buckeye Stallion Series on Tuesday evening, Aug. 6 at the Champaign County Fair in Urbana, Ohio. Despite a weather delay, a total of 11 $27,778 divisions went behind the gate.
Two-year-old colt pacers opened the show. Forty-one starters comprised six divisions.
While the track was still in 'good' condition, Fear The Thunder won the first division in 1:58.2 by 4-1/4 lengths. Driver Brett Miller took the colt by Fear The Dragon three-wide in the final turn and powered home to a new lifetime mark. Stacey Currie trains the colt, who is now four-for-six, for William Beacham and Robert Robinson. Robinthefire (Shawn Barker II) finished second and Fortunesfool (Tyler Smith) was third.
Go Jim Dandy set a new lifetime mark in the second division in 1:58.2. Driven by Miller, the gelded son of Bit Of A Legend N dug in through his final strides to win by a neck. The victory marks two in a row from five starts for Go Jim Dandy. Co-owner and breeder Kim Dailey trains the gelding for Jr Stable. Cruisinoverfire (Smith) was second while Woodrow Blue Chip (Kayne Kauffman) rounded out the top three.
Lather Up Athens (pictured above) and Hank LeVan took the third and fastest division of the night in 1:57.1. The Lather Up gelding rushed home in a :28.2 final quarter to win by nearly 11 lengths. The Matt Waltz-trained and owned freshman has won half of his four lifetime starts. Real Thriller (Miller) was second with Jon I Love Dat (Kauffman) hanging on for third.
Southern Rock was not fazed after heavy rains downgraded track conditions to 'sloppy' in the fourth division. Luke Hanners stayed patient along the rail before gliding home in 2:03.3. Bret Schwartz trains and co-owns the gelded son of Pet Rock alongside Brian Larrick. It was the second lifetime win in five starts for Southern Rock. Seaside Star (Austin Hanners) rallied for second and Odds On Valhalla (Miller) finished third.
Jbmagic remains perfect in the series after taking the fifth division in 1:59.2. The Fear The Dragon gelding and Luke Hanners refused to give up the lead, gaining control of the front twice in the opening quarter. Jbmagic never looked back, blazing home in a :27 final quarter in sloppy conditions. A six-time starts, Jbmagic now has five victories in a row for trained Tyler Bates and owner Robert Geist. Unique Catch (Daren Harvey) finished 1-3/4 lengths behind in second while Fly High Cruiser (Austin Hanners) was third.
In the final division, Downbytheparade won in wire-to-wire fashion in 2:01.1 by 1-1/2 lengths. Kauffman got the call for owner/trainer Betty Clegg. The gelded son of Downbytheseaside has now won 10 of 14 lifetime starts, with earnings topping the $100,000 mark. De Dragon (Luke Hanners) finished second and Clevelandtoprookie (Chris Lems) was third.
Thirty-nine freshman filly trotters were divided into five divisions for the Buckeye Stallion Series.
Countonluna won the first division in the fastest time of the night. The daughter of Full Count set fractions in :32, 1:03.2, and 1:34.3 before stopping the clock in 2:03.2. Harvey trains and drives Countonluna. She has won three of her four lifetime starts with an additional second-place finish for co-owners Harvey and Eric Hershberger. Iwillmakeuproud As (Austin Hanners) finished three-quarters of a length back in second while Countdown Queen (Brian Miller) completed the trifecta.
Despite leaving from the trailing eighth post position, Triump Over You took the second division in 2:05.3 by a neck. Trainer Chris Beaver drove the daughter of Triumphant Caviar. It was the first lifetime win for 63-1 shot Triump Over You, making her fourth start. She is owned by Beaver, Bill Manes, Leo Fleming and Steven Zeehandelar. Eckert Hill Addie (Drew Neill) held on for second with Say Oui (Jeff Nisonger) finishing third.
Cs Donatta Girl and Lems went wire to wire in 2:05.2. The daughter of Long Tom has won three of four lifetime starts for trainer Scott Cox and owners Scott Cox Stables, Melinda Bailey and Wayne Zollars. Dublins Martini (Ronnie Gillespie) finished second by 1-1/2 lengths and In The End (Smith) rallied for third.
The fourth division went to Bye Bye Girl in 2:06. The Uncle Peter filly found herself first up before the half-mile marker. Digging in at the top of the stretch, Bye Bye Girl cruised across the finish line with more than a length to spare. Brady Brown guided for trainer Terry Hall. The victory was the first for the filly, who has made five starts. Bye Bye Girl is owned by Gary Alexander and Betty Hall. Juu Dee Kaa (Lems) was second with Sudsnritz (Kauffman) in third.
Mona Lisa Hill took the final division in 2:03.4 by 7-1/2 lengths. The daughter of What The Hill went wire to wire with Lems behind the lines. It was the first lifetime win for the Matthew Burkholder trainee in three attempts. Mona Lisa Hill is owned by Burkholder, Julie Ann Sweet and Dale Sweet. Annie L (Hank Le Van) finished second and Mia Sangria (Chris Beaver) was third.
Buckeye Stallion Series action continues on Sunday, Aug. 11 at MGM Northfield Park when sophomore colt trotters take to the track for the fourth leg.
(With files from Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association)