Five $27,027 divisions for the fourth leg of the Buckeye Stallion Series for two-year-old colt pacers highlighted the Wednesday, Sept. 4 card at MGM Northfield Park. Go Jim Dandy not won the fastest division of the night but blocked previously perfect Jbmagic from a fourth series win.
Go Jim Dandy (pictured above) and Hunter Myers refused to be anywhere but the lead. The gelded son of Bit Of A Legend N grabbed the front directly out of the gate. As soon as the dust settled, 3-5 favourite Jbmagic (Austin Hanners) challenged at the :27.2 opening quarter mark. Go Jim Dandy immediately popped the pocket to regain control before reaching the half in :56.2. His competitors were relentless as 3-1 second choice Johnny Up (Chris Lems) marched first-up on the backside. It wasn’t long before 9-2 shot Go Jim Dandy hit another gear and pulled away from the field while heading by the three-quarters in 1:24.2. Under confident hands, Go Jim Dandy cruised home in 1:54.3 with more than eight lengths to spare. Rose Run Ajay (Anthony MacDonald) finished second and Jbmagic held on for third.
Go Jim Dandy has hit the board in six of his eight lifetime starts. With two series victories, the gelding has bankrolled $39,976 for trainer/owner Kim Dailey and Jr Staple Llp. Go Jim Dandy is a homebred named in remembrance of Dailey’s late husband and Ohio Immortal Hall of Fame trainer James Dailey.
The first division was taken by Fear The Thunder in 1:57.2. Driven by Tyler Angus, 9-5 second choice Fear The Thunder won in true wire-to-wire fashion. The colt by Fear The Dragon set fractions in :28.4, :59.3 and 1:28.3 before stopping the clock in a new lifetime mark. Mama Said Zip It (Hanners) was second by three-quarters of a lenght while Herbies Rocket (Lems) finished third.
The victory marks the second series win for Fear The Thunder. He has won seven of his 10 starts this season, earning $47,477 for owners William Beacham and Robert Robinson. Stacey Currie trains Fear The Thunder. He was bred by Winbak Farm.
Accuracy By Volume notched his first Buckeye Stallion Series victory in the second division. Aaron Merriman settled 2-5 favourite Accuracy By Volume into the pocket behind Billion (Kurt Sugg). Accuracy By Volume stayed patient as the quarters passed in :28.1, :58.2, and 1:26.3. The son of Lost In Time made his move at the top of the stretch. Pulling to the outside, Accuracy By Volume easily won by 1-1/4 lengths as he tripped the wire in 1:55.1. Billion held on for second with Southern Rockfest (Hanners) in third.
Despite being lightly raced compared to his peers, Accuracy By Volume has won three of his four lifetime starts. Trained by Scott Betts, the colt has earned $27,428. Timothy Betts bred and owns Accuracy By Volume.
The third division was won by The Onyx Dragon and Justin Irvine in 1:55. The gelded son of Fear The Dragon got away third as Downbytheparade (Merriman) posted the opening fraction in :27.4. At 2-1 odds, The Onyx Dragon pulled first-up as they passed the half-mile marker in :57.3. Irvine urged the gelding at the 1:25.4 three-quarters pole. Answering the call, The Onyx Dragon overtook the field to win by 1-1/2 length. Downbytheparade was second and Itwasaverygoodyear (Tyler Smith) finished third.
Gary Martin conditions The Onyx Dragon, who has hit the board in eight of his nine lifetime starts while banking $51,397. It was the first series win and fifth overall for the gelding in a new lifetime mark. Sue Stockwell owns The Onyx Dragon. He was bred by Brent Hopper.
Believe In Tom was the longshot winner of the night in the fourth division. At 13-1, Believe In Tom and MacDonald cleared the front and never faltered. Sired by the successful trotter Long Tom, the pacer Believe In Tom opened up to set fractions in 28.1, :58.1 and 1:26.2. Never facing any challengers, Believe In Tom scored by a length in 1:55.2. Scares Me (Myers) finished second while Seaside Star (Sugg) was third.
Believe In Tom has taken two series legs during his rookie campaign in which he has earned $49,397 through 11 starts. He has secured five wins under Steve Novak’s training. Believe In Tom is owned and was bred by Gerald Mijal.
Buckeye Stallion Series action continues with freshman filly pacers competing on Friday, Sept. 6 at Eldorado Scioto Downs. First race post is 5:45 p.m.
(With files from Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association)