Grove City, OH — For the first time in her career, 3-year-old trotter Sadodaka stepped up into the Buckeye Stallion Series and did not disappoint.

Owned, trained, and driven by 81-year-old Ohio Harness Hall of Famer Don McKirgan, the daughter of Team Six held off a late charge to win the $17,500 first division of the Buckeye Stallion Series second leg for sophomore filly trotters at MGM Northfield Park Saturday night (June 18).

Sadodaka is named after four people. The SA in the name are the initials of McKirgan’s late wife Sandy who passed away earlier this year.

Last year Sadodaka raced on the Ohio fair circuit but could only garner five second-place finishes in 13 starts. This year, Sadodaka has been racing in overnight races at Northfield Park. She won for the first time May 18.

Stars In Your Eyes and Billy Davis Jr. raced to the lead, covering the first quarter in :28.4, but broke stride just before the half-mile pole allowing Sadodaka to grab the lead in 1:00.

Sadodaka fought off a challenge by Onetwoskipafew down the backstretch and led by a half-length at three-quarters in 1:29.1. As the field turned for home Sadodaka extended her lead to a 1-1/4 lengths. Down the stretch, I Luv To Motor and Hunter Myers shot down to the inside of the leader while Rosanna and Ronnie Wrenn Jr. went to the outside. As they hit the line, Sadodaka held on to win by a head in 1:59.2, a new lifetime mark. I Luv To Motor was second and Rosanna was third.

Sadodaka now has two wins in 13 starts this year and raised her earnings to $19,055.

In the second division, Ryan Stahl took Lady Is Great to the lead off the gate but yielded to Hill Of A Diamond and Hunter Myers as the field hit the quarter pole in :28.3. Stahl wasted no time reclaiming the lead with the Creatine filly, covering the half in :59, three-quarters in 1:27.1 and cruised to a 1-3/4 length win in a new lifetime mark of 1:56.4. The win was her third of the year in eight starts, raising her earnings to $31,725. Lady Is Great is trained by Mathew Burkholder and owned by Acadia Farms. Gracious Triumph was second with Brekkenridge finished third.

In the third division, Kahlua Mudslide and Ronnie Wrenn Jr. charged around the final turn and reeled in the leader Purple Aura at the wire to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:57, a new lifetime mark. The daughter of What The Hill won for the second time this year as she has hit the board in all four starts. The win raised Kahlua Mudslide’s yearly earnings to $19,190. Kahlua Mudslide is owned and trained by Mike Sowers. Caviar Roxie Due finished second while Purple Aura was third.

In the final division, Sweet On Pete with Anthony MacDonald went gate-to-wire for an easy 5-3/4 length victory in a new lifetime mark of 1:55.2. Trained by Jason McGinnis and owned by Thestable Sweet On Pete and Hutchison Harness, the win was the first of the year for the daughter of Uncle Peter. Sweet On Pete has now earned $15,525 this year. Lb’s Legacy was second and Wegothatsright was third.

Buckeye Stallion Series action resumes Sunday (June 26) at MGM Northfield Park with 3-year-old colt trotters.