Columbus, OH – Two $75,000 divisions of the Ohio Sires Stakes for 2-year-old colt pacers were held Saturday (July 25) at Eldorado Scioto Downs. Both divisions went in 1:52, but each was won by horses in different stages of their freshman campaign – Night Surfer won in his first lifetime start, but it was Don’ttruckwithme who is now undefeated, winning his first three lifetime races in impressive fashion.
Getting off the car from post six, Chris Lems pointed Don’ttruckwithme to the front and never looked back, tripping the beam in :28, :56.4 and 1:24.1. Coming home in :27.4, the Catch The Fire gelding won by two and a half lengths over Ocean Party (David Miller); First Grade (Chris Page) was third.
Don’ttruckwithme won the Next Generation on July 4 and followed that up with a win in the first leg of the Ohio Sires Stakes. Bred by Judy Roegner, out of her Real Desire mare Age Of Consent, Don’ttruckwithme now has $150,000 earned. Daren Harvey trains Don’ttruckwithme who was a $37,000 purchase from the Ohio Selected Yearling Sale by Wayne Mast, Jr. Eden Acres Farmstead and Kirk Nichols.
In the first division, eventual winner Night Surfer got away third from the rail while Jett James (Brett Miller) took the early lead, albeit parked, towards the :26.2 opening quarter. Marvin Luna kept Atlantic Ivey moving from post seven and they made the front shortly thereafter, getting to the half in :55.3 and to the three-quarters in 1:24.3. Luke Hanners pulled Night Surfer midway down the backstretch in a first over bid, taking the lead as the field came off the last turn. Posting a :26.3 last quarter, Night Surfer won by three-quarters of a length over North Rim (Page); Jett James was third.
Night Surfer, by Downbytheseaside out of the Bettor’s Delight mare Dark Force, was a $67,000 Ohio Selected Yearling Sale purchase from KAD Farms. Virgil Morgan, Jr. trains the colt for Let It Ride Stables, Morrison Racing Stables and Steven Held.
Live action at Scioto Downs continues Monday (July 27) with five qualifiers starting at 10:00 a.m., available for viewing live on RTN. Evening racing continues Tuesday (July 28) and Wednesday (July 29) each with 13 races starting at 5:25 p.m.
The 91-day 2026 Eldorado Scioto Downs regular season runs through Saturday, September 19. Races are held Tuesday-Saturday, with a special holiday card on Labor Day instead of the Tuesday card that week. The track will then re-open for the Breeders Crown, with eliminations held October 16-17 and the finals October 23-24. More information about all the racing action at Scioto can be found on the Eldorado Scioto Downs website.