Columbus, OH – Five divisions of the Buckeye Stallion Series for 2-year-old trotting fillies went to post Thursday (Aug. 20) at Eldorado Scioto Downs. Each of the $20,000 events were won by differently sired fillies, with homebreds Aunt Jessie (Action Uncle) and Sweet Stevie (Global Republic S) winning their splits in the fastest time – 1:56.2.
Aunt Jessie (driven by Austin Hanners) went gate-to-wire for trainer Leroy Eicher, setting fractions of :28, :57.4 and 1:26.2. It was the maiden win for Aunt Jessie who won by three-quarters of a length over Center Field Lady (Luke Hanners); Soaring Sophia (Ronnie Gillespie) was third. Owned by breeder Lavern Hostetler, Aunt Jessie is by Action Uncle out of the Jailhouse Jesse mare Jessiesexpresslane. Aunt Jessie who now has $18,516 earned in six starts.
Sweet Stevie (Kurt Sugg) won her division by 7 lengths after briefly giving way to Seven Lick Holiday (Tyler Smith) going to the :28 opening quarter before setting the rest of the fractions of :58 and 1:27.2. Dublins Ferani (Tyler Angus) came from the back of the pack to finish second with Seven Lick Holiday third. Sugg also trains the filly by Global Republic S out of the Dontyouforgetit mare Jogging Sweets for owner/breeders Rebecca Sugg, Ashley Miller and Edward Miller. Sweet Stevie now has $50,125 earned in six starts. Thursday’s victory was her third and set a new lifetime mark.
The other three divisions were won by DS Alisson (1:57.1), Been Thru Hill (1:57.3) and Rose Run Classy (1:57.1).
DS Alisson, by Ready for Moni out of the What The Hill mare Stephanie Hill, won for driver Chris Lems after being parked second-over from post 8 to the :28.4 opening quarter and making the lead just before the :56.3 half. Leading to the 1:26 third quarter, DS Alisson held off a passing lane bid from Indigo Times (Kayne Kauffman), winning by half a length for trainer Scott Cox; Alleluia (Gillespie) was third. It was DS Alisson’s first victory in six starts for owners Wayne Mast Jr., Callam Racing, Green Wave Racing and Wayne Zollars. DS Alisson, a $30,000 Ohio Selected Yearling Sale purchase from breeders Double Spring Farm, Chris Beaver and Moger-Delia Racing, now has $20,450 earned.
Been Thru Hill won her division by 2 lengths for driver Carson Conrad and trainer Dalton Walls. Fired up going to the opening quarter, Been Thru Hill got there in :28 and continued to lead through fractions of :57.3 and 1:27. Pocket-sitter Shes In My Range (Brett Miller) finished second, with Rollin Range (Gillespie) third. Been Thru Hill, by What The Hill out of the Uncle Peter mare Trumpeter Swan, is a homebred for Charles Hartzell. The filly now has $29,400 earned in five starts, with three wins.
Rose Run Classy won her division by a half-length with driver David Miller at the lines. Getting away fifth from post 6, Rose Run Classy sat until midway down the backstretch while On A Clear Day (Lems) set the fractions of :28.1, :57.4 and 1:27.1. Making her move second-over, Rose Run Classy patiently waited until the top of the stretch to make her final move for the victory. Volonce’ Muscle (B. Miller) was second with Sweet Valorie (L. Hanners) third. By Long Tom out of the Swan for All mare Lady Kolette, Rose Run Classy was a $27,000 Ohio Selected Yearling Sale purchase from breeder Rose Run Farm. Owned by Dark Horse Farm, trainer Matthew Burkholder and Enos Miller, Rose Run Classy now has $28,060 earned with two wins in six starts.
Racing continues at Scioto Downs on Friday (Aug. 21) with a 16-race card, including the $25,000 fillies and mares open as race 7. First post is 5:25 p.m. (EDT).
The 91-day Eldorado Scioto Downs regular season runs through Saturday, Sept. 19. Races are held Tuesdays and Thursdays through Saturdays, with a special holiday card on Labor Day instead of the Tuesday card that week and no live racing on Friday (Sept. 18) to accommodate horsemen attending the Ohio Selected Yearling Sale. The track will then re-open for the Breeders Crown, with eliminations held Oct. 16-17 and the finals Oct. 23-24.
More information about all the racing action at Scioto can be found on the Eldorado Scioto Downs website.