Grove City, OH – The first leg of the Ohio Triple Crown gets underway Thursday (July 31) with three $56,000 divisions of freshman colt trotters and three $55,500 divisions of freshman filly trotters in the Ohio State Fair Stakes at Eldorado Scioto Downs.
The first division of colt trotters is headlined by 6-5 morning line favorite Ready Russell (Dan Noble). The Deborah Swartz trainee is three-for-three this season, including wins in each of the first two legs of the Ohio Sires Stakes. The Ready For Moni gelding has a lifetime best of 1:55 and will leave from the far outside next to Rose Run Banker (Chris Page), who shares 4-1 odds with Water Slide (Aaron Merriman) for second choice.
Rose Run Banker has hit the board in all three seasonal starts, including a victory in the first leg of the OSS and a runner-up finish in the second leg. Water Slide has hit the board in three of four starts, including a win in the second leg of the OSS and a second-place finish in the first leg.
The division also includes Eckert Hill Brady (Justin Irvine), who has three wins and one second in four starts this season. He posted a win in the opening leg of the Buckeye Stallion Series and was a runner-up in the second leg.
Big Ranger is the early even-money favorite in the second division of colt trotters. Driven by trainer Ronnie Gillespie, the In Range colt has started his career in spectacular fashion, going two-for-two with wins in the $150,000 Next Generation and the $50,000 first leg of the OSS for a total of $100,000 in earnings. In the Next Generation at Scioto, Big Ranger set a new stakes and track record with a time of 1:54.
Super Mind (Anthony MacDonald) is the 5-1 second choice in the division, which also includes a pair of one-leg OSS winners in Ur Ride Is Here (Brady Brown) and Special Moni (Tyler Smith).
Max The Mighty (Merriman) opened as the even-money morning line favorite in the third division ahead of 3-1 second choice Tom Largo (Noble). The Chris Beaver-trained Max The Mighty has hit the board in all four seasonal starts with one win and three seconds and has a lifetime best of 2:00.4. Tom Largo has one win in three starts in 2025.
The second division of filly trotters promises to be one to watch, featuring Demonic Niko, Hangtighthoney L, and Judy’s Moni. Demonic Niko (Noble) is the 6-5 morning line favorite. Trained by Erv Miller, the In Range filly has hit the board in all four seasonal starts with three wins and one second. She posted a victory in each of the first two legs of the OSS and has $107,500 in earnings while boasting a lifetime best of 1:55.4.
Hangtighthoney L, driven by trainer Hank LeVan, and Range The Wish (Merriman), will leave side-by-side from posts three and four, respectively, as co-second choice with 4-1 odds. Hangtighthoney L has seven wins and one second in eight starts this season, including a pair of BSS victories. Judy’s Moni (MacDonald) has also posted victories in each of the first two legs of the BSS and has 9-2 morning line odds.
Godusa (Noble) is the even-money morning line favorite in the third division with 4-1 second choice Lucky Lady Volo (Chris Lems). The Nancy Takter-trained Godusa, a Ready For Moni filly, posted a win in the opening leg of the OSS in a lifetime best 1:53.3. Lucky Lady Volo has hit the board in three of four seasonal starts with wins in each of the first two legs of the OSS.
Speedbewithyou (Austin Hanners) will leave from the rail as the early 8-5 favorite in the first division. The Todd Luther trainee has hit the board in all three starts this season, including a victory in the opening leg of the OSS in a lifetime best 1:55.1. The Mission Accepted filly was a runner-up to Demonic Niko in the second leg of the OSS.
Sarah’s Mission (Page) is the 3-1 second choice in the division and will leave from the rail. She has hit the board in all four seasonal starts with one win, one second, and two thirds.
The Ohio State Fair Stakes races are part of Thursday’s 14-race card at Eldorado Scioto Downs beginning at 5:45 p.m.
For more information:
Wes Mayberry
wmayberry@ohha.com
614-221-3650
The Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association (OHHA) is a non-profit organization serving Standardbred horse owners, breeders, trainers, drivers, and fans who participate in the sport of harness racing in the Buckeye State.
OHHA was founded in 1953. The mission of the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association is to preserve, protect, promote, and serve the entire Standardbred industry in Ohio and beyond.