Columbus, OH — Three divisions of $20,000 Buckeye Stallion Series action for 3-year-old colt and gelding trotters anchored the Friday (August 15) card at Eldorado Scioto Downs with three different drivers, trainers and stallions winning each division.
The first division was won by Royaltimestwo in 1:54.2 with Tyler Smith in the bike. Leaving from post two, Royaltimestwo got away fourth, from post three as Countryofmars (Austin Hanners) led the field through quarters of :27.1 and :56.2. By the 1:25 third-quarter, My Next Chapter (Aaron Merriman) had popped the pocket and Long Rocky Road (Luke Hanners) vacated the rail so Royaltimestwo slid up the inside. The pair won by three-quarters of a length over Amazing Tom (Brett Miller) who also came up the inside; Countryofmars was third.
Royaltimestwo is a gelded son of What The Hill out of the Chip Chip Hooray mare Like Old Times. Trained by Marion Chupp for Marlin Miller, Royaltimestwo now has two wins in 11 lifetime starts and $24,435 in earnings.
Skyway Slick and Jason Beattie took the second division, also in 1:54.2, to win his fifth race in a row. The duo led gate-to-wire, setting fractions of :28, :57.3 and 1:25 before coming home in 29.2 to best Smoke One For Me (Dan Noble) and I Stand Alone AS (Merriman).
Skyway Slick is trained by Bobbie Jo Brewer for Michelle Hermann and Matthew Keesler. Coming off the Ohio fair circuit with four wins coming into Friday’s event, Skyway Slick now has eight wins in 15 lifetime starts and $53,501 in earnings. By Long Tom out of the Dream Vacation mare Short Vacation, Skyway Slick was a $27,000 Buckeye Classic Yearling Sale purchase from breeder Wayne Schlabach.
The final division was won by Cowboy Poker and Sam Widger in 1:54.4. Coming from post three, Cowboy Poker got the pocket trip behind Shoot Some Hoop (Chris Page) through fractions of :28, :57.3 and 1:26.1. At the top of the stretch, Cowboy Poker came off the rail to challenge the race leader and got by to win by a nose; Rose Run ATM (Miller) was third.
Cowboy Poker was a $26,000 Buckeye Classic Yearling Sale purchase by Paul Phillips, Laura Baker, Paul Baker and trainer Jim Arledge, Jr. The Marseille gelding is out of the Triumphant Caviar mare Ann-e Oaks and now has three wins in 14 lifetime starts and $50,050 in earnings.
In other racing news, Fearless Ginger won the $25,000 filly and mare open pace in 1:49.2. Chris Page took Fearless Ginger straight to the top from post four and timed fractions of :26.4, :55.3 and 1:22.1. The pair won by three-quarters of a length over No Foolin April (Miller); High Flyin’ Filly (Widger) was third. Fearless Ginger is trained by Ron Burke for Burke Racing and Weaver Bruscemi. The 4-year-old Fear The Dragon mare now has 18 wins in 52 lifetime starts and $351,060 in earnings.
Racing continues Saturday with a single division of the Ohio Sires Stakes for 3-year-old colt pacers that were rescheduled due to weather on July 26. With the $100,000 purse, all 10 horses must report to detention by 3:32 p.m. Saturday. There will also be four divisions of the Buckeye Stallion Series for 3-year-old colt pacers.
Saturday also features the $27,000 Open Pace with Little Rocket Man coming over from Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Jeremy Smith will be back in the bike for trainer Ken Rucker, and the pair are the slight favorites at 5/2. Smith is making his return to racing, his only drive of the night, since making his last start on July 8.
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.