Columbus, OH – Vernon Beachy seems to have found a magic formula when it comes to racing 2-year-old male trotters in the Ohio Sires Stakes: team up with Gitup Racing, Ryan Smith and Todd’s Auto to go to the yearling sales, spend just over $20,000 on Ready For Moni colts, enlist Ronnie Wrenn Jr. to drive, get away third from post 5, make it to the front just after the opening quarter and continue to lead the mile to win in 1:54 and change.
Wrenn and Beachy teamed up Thursday (Aug. 27) to sweep the two $75,000 OHSS events at Eldorado Scioto Downs, with Mind On My Moni in 1:54.2 and Debt Free in 1:54.1.
“Both raced very good tonight,” said Beachy. “Happy with their performances. Need to keep them happy and have a good week heading into the finals and finish the year strong.”
The first division saw splits of :28.3, :57.4 and 1:26.2 before Mind On My Moni posted a :28 last quarter to cross the line three-quarters of a length ahead of Obsessed With Me (driven by Brett Miller); Roll’n In Moni (Chris Lems) was third.
Mind On My Moni, out of the Angus Hall mare JJ’s Jordyn, was bred by Winbak Farm. Purchased for $21,000 at the Ohio Selected Yearling Sale, Mind On My Moni now has seven lifetime starts, six wins and has earned $161,000.
The second division saw nearly identical fractions as Debt Free made the lead shortly after the :28.3 opening quarter and continued through fractions of :58.2 and 1:26.2. Posting a :27.4 last quarter, Debt Free won by a quarter-length over Iluvmymoni (David Miller); Cool Julio (Tyler Smith) was third.
Debt Free, out of the Chapter Seven mare Feelsofree, was a $23,000 Buckeye Classic Yearling Sale purchase from breeder John Schlabach. Now with four wins in a row in six lifetime starts, Debt Free has earned $158,750.
“It’s been a great year, better than I could have imagined” continued Beachy. “Nice horses and a great team make that possible. It’s been a busy couple of days, for sure, but rewarding.”
Over the past two days, Beachy has been a perfect 6-for-6 in Sires Stakes action across three tracks and two states. The 38-year-old trainer from New Philadelphia, Ohio, has had a record year in 2026 with 65 wins in 178 purse starts and over $1.85 million in earnings.
Racing continues Friday and Saturday (Aug. 28 and 29) with 16-race cards each starting at 5:25 p.m. (EDT). There will be two $75,000 divisions of OHSS action for 3-year-old filly pacers on Friday, with Saturday’s card hosting two divisions each of 2-year-old male and filly pacers and three $50,000 divisions of 3-year-old male pacers.
Looking ahead, Scioto will host Ohio Super Night on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 11-12, with the eight Scarlet and Gray championships. The Jim Ewart Memorial Pace and Charlie Hill Memorial Trot will be held on Saturday, Sept. 12.
The 91-day 2026 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.