Columbus, OH – Aaron Merriman took two of the four $20,000 divisions of the Buckeye Stallion Series for 3-year-old filly pacers Friday (July 4) at Eldorado Scioto Downs, including the first in a speedy 1:50.4.
My Hare Legend got the perfect pocket trip and came up to challenge pacesetter Rylee Too (Jeremy Smith) coming out of the last turn. Rylee Too fought back, but My Hare Legend came out on top by a nose; Rose Run Ashlee (Chris Page) was third. The Logan Ebersole trainee is by Bit Of A Legend N and got her first win of the season after posting four wins last year on her way to earning over $86,000. In 18 lifetime starts the $35,000 Ohio Selected Yearling Sale purchase now has $111,500 in earnings for owner Ronald Rust. My Hare Legend is a half-sister to the 2022 winner of the Next Generation, My Red Sea.
Merriman’s other winner was Anna Loves Bananas, who won by a neck in 1:52.4. Leaving from the second tier, Anna Loves Bananas got away fifth, followed cover going three-wide down the backside and got the job done over Odds On Collateral (Pete Wrenn); Reallyareukiddingme (Austin Hanners) finished third. Anna Loves Bananas is a homebred for Tim Betts and trained by Scott Betts. The Well Said filly now has $80,390 in earnings from 20 lifetime starts with five wins.
The other two Buckeye Stallion Series divisions were won in gate-to-wire fashion, both from post nine.
Legendary L won the third division for trainer/driver Hank LeVan. Leaving aggressively, the Bit Of A Legend N filly, led at every call to win by three and three-quarter lengths in 1:52. Owned by LeVan Stables, Darmofal Racing and Megan LeVan, Legendary L, a $9,000 Ohio Selected Yearling Sale purchase, has earned $40,247 in 24 lifetime starts with nine wins.
The final division was won by odds-on favorite Bubblles Out (Page) in 1:53. Racin Like A Star (Luke Hanners) was three lengths back in second with Goodnight Dance (Kurt Sugg) coming from the back of the pack to get up for third. Bubblles Out is a homebred by Downbytheseaside for Foulk Stables. Trish Folk trains the filly who did not race as a 2-year-old but has now won five in a row, from 10 starts, with $62,720 in earnings.
In other action at Scioto, Fearless Ginger won the $27,000 fillies & mares open in 1:50.1. The Ron Burke trainee won by a length over Dragon By The Sea (Tyler Smith) and Adashious Hanover (Merriman). The 4-year-old Fear The Dragon mare is owned by Burke Racing and Weaver Bruscemi; she now has $314,650 in earnings from 47 lifetime starts with 16 wins.
The 90-day 2025 Eldorado Scioto Downs race meet runs through Saturday, September 13. Races are held Tuesday-Saturday with a 5:45 p.m. first post. A special late first post of 6:45 p.m. on Friday, September 12 will help accommodate horsemen attending the Ohio Selected Yearling Sale. More information about racing at Scioto can be found on the Eldorado Scioto Downs website.