Northfield, OH — A dead heat between Come N Get Me and Okay One More highlighted four $20,000 divisions of the third leg of the Buckeye Stallion Series for freshman colt trotters at MGM Northfield Park on Wednesday (Aug. 13).
Come N Get Me (Justin Irvine) and Okay One More (Aaron Merriman) tripped the wire in 2:01 to win the second division by two lengths over third-place Rudedude L (Hank LeVan). Okay One More has four wins in five career starts and is now a two-time winner in the Buckeye Stallion Series, adding Wednesday’s victory to one in the second leg at Eldorado Scioto Downs in a lifetime-best 1:59.3. The Triumphant Caviar gelding has $25,130 in earnings and is trained by Chris Beaver, who co-owns the horse with Tim Homan, Leo Fleming, and Bill Manes. It was the first career win for Come N Get Me, who was making his fourth start. The In Range colt is trained by Ron Burke for owners Burke Racing Stable, Hatfield Stables, Knox Services, and RAS Racing.
Okay One More left from post seven and led through the first three calls in fractions of :30.1, 1:01.2, and 1:31. After moving third over, Come N Get Me (In Range-Karen’s Lady) was more than four lengths back in sixth place at the three-quarter pole. Come N Get Me went to the far outside down the final stretch, and a strong burst of closing speed pulled him even with Okay One More at the line in the photo finish. Okay One More had 11-1 odds, while Come N Get Me was at 15-1.
Ready Made (Sandy Beatty) joined Okay One More in getting his second Buckeye Stallion Series win of the season, taking the fourth division in a lifetime-best 1:59.4. The Dustin Arledge trainee also won a division of the first leg at Bucyrus in 2:06.2. In addition to his two wins, the Ready For Moni gelding has one second and one third, hitting the board in all four career starts. He is owned by Arledge and Jim Winske.
In yet another close finish, Ready Made edged second-leg winner Perfect Range (Luke Hanners) by a neck as both horses crossed the line in 1:59.4. Drivinthrusmoke (Emanuel Miller) was third. Perfect Range left from post five and led the field through the first three calls with fractions of :28.2, :59.3, and 1:29.2. Sitting third at the first two calls, Ready Made moved first over just past the halfway mark and trailed by less than a length at the three-quarter pole. Ready Made remained on the outside down the final stretch and was able to get past Perfect Range at the wire, increasing his earnings to $25,400.
Rg’s Juggernaut (Hanners), the 2-1 betting favorite in the first division, rallied from sixth place at the halfway mark to win by three quarters of a length in 1:59. Mile Range (Carson Conrad) led the way past the first three calls in :29, :58.4, and 1:29. Rg’s Juggernaut was second over going to the three-quarter mark before making it three wide and rounding the final turn in second place by just a quarter length. The Vernon Beachy trainee took the lead down the stretch and went unchallenged to the line as Moon Time Moni (Chris Lems) rallied from sixth at the three-quarter pole to finish second on the far outside. Mile Range was third. Making his second start, it was the first career win for Rg’s Juggernaut. The Long Tom gelding is owned by Richard Gutnick, Thomas Pantone, and Steven Cross.
Another Long Tom gelding, Tom Largo (Lems), posted the fastest mile among the four BSS races, winning the third division as the 1-9 betting favorite in 1:57.1, matching his lifetime best. The Scott Cox trainee was in fifth place as the field crossed the quarter pole in :28.2 before moving first over and taking the lead at the half in :58.2. He led the rest of the way, crossing the three-quarter pole in 1:27.4 en route to winning by three lengths. Jackie Jann (Wilbur Yoder) was second followed by Longtimecomin (Irvine) in third. Also a winner in the Ohio State Fair Stakes at Scioto on July 31, Tom Largo has three victories in five starts with $48,900 in earnings. He is owned by Jughead Stables and G Peters.
The 2025 Buckeye Stallion Series for freshman colt trotters continues with the fourth leg on Aug. 26 at Eldorado Scioto Downs.