Columbus, OH — Godusa set a track record at Eldorado Scioto Downs Saturday (July 12) and became the fastest 2-year-old trotter so far in 2025 as Ohio Sires Stakes action kicked off for the season for freshman colts and fillies.
Getting away fourth from post three, Dan Noble positioned Godusa (Ready For Moni-Behold The Dream) mid-pack as Rose Run Brooke (Luke Hanners) set the early fractions of :27.3 and :57.4. Coming out of the second turn and going down the backside, Godusa was first up and the two fillies started to put separation between the rest of the field by the 1:25.2 third quarter. Coming down the stretch to the finish, Godusa ended up a half-length ahead of Rose Run Brooke while Tomboy Strong (Anthony MacDonald) finished third. Godusa, a Ready For Moni filly out of the Trixton mare Behold The Dream, is owned by E Five Racing and John Fielding.
A $35,000 Harrisburg Yearling Sale purchase from breeder Carter Duer, Godusa redeemed herself after making a break as the race favorite while on the lead last week in the Next Generation. Saturday’s mile shattered the previous track record of 1:55 set by Sugar Instead and Ronnie Gillespie in 2023.
Atlee Bender and Erv Miller teamed up to win two of the other $50,000 filly divisions with Demonic Niko (In Range-Cant Stop Marie) in 1:55.4 and Lucky Lady Volo (In Range-Lady Gill Again) in 1:56.2.
They first won with Demonic Niko, who powered away down the stretch to win her division by six lengths. Countrydiamondlady (Kayne Kauffman) took the early lead from post six, but Princess Karolyn (Justin Irvine) was set to take over by the :28.1 opening quarter. Heading to the :58.1 half, Bender had Demonic Niko first over and was gaining on the leaders. By the 1:27 third quarter, Demonic Niko had a head in front and easily won over Countrydiamondlady, who finished second, with Princess Karolyn holding on for third.
Sold as Can’t Stop Missy, Demonic Niko was a $95,000 Ohio Selected Yearling Sale purchase from breeder Labelle Farms. By In Range and the first foal out of the Cantab Hall mare Cant Stop Marie, Demonic Niko now has $82,500 earned in 3 lifetime starts with two wins and a second place in the Next Generation for owners Ervin Miller Stable, Anthony Lombardi and Douglas Overhiser.
Lucky Lady Volo benefited from a great pocket trip to get up at 14/1 to win for the Bender/Miller team in 1:56.2. Tom’s Babe (Austin Hanners) set fractions of :28.1, :58.1 and 1:26.4. Coming into the last turn, Lucky Lady Volo popped the pocket and won by three lengths over Sarah’s Mission (Chris Page); Tom’s Babe held on for third. Lucky Lady Volo, by In Range out of the Yankee Glide mare Lady Gill Again, is owned by Ervin Miller Stable, Kentuckiana Racing Stable, and Douglas Overhiser; Kentuckiana Farms and Jorgen Jahre, Jr. were the breeders.
Speedbewithyou (Mission Accepted-Instinct) took her sires stakes division in near gate-to-wire fashion in 1:55.1. Getting away from post five, Speedbewithyou (Au. Hanners) took a brief lead going into the first turn and let Mooter Tooter (Page) make the lead before pulling immediately for the re-take by the 28.1 quarter. Leading through the 57.2 half and 1:26.2 third-quarter, Speedbewithyou held off a fast-closing bid by Guardian Doll (Ronnie Gillespie), who finished second by the smallest of noses; Mooter Tooter was third. Todd Luther trains the Mission Accepted filly for Greg Luther Racing and owner/breeder David Wills. Speedbewithyou is the first foal out of the Donato Hanover mare Donatela Lightning.
The first colt winner of the evening was Big Ranger (In Range-Big Blue Bird), who made a few mis-steps before the start but recovered big to win by five lengths in 1:54.4 for trainer/driver Ronnie Gillespie. Special Moni (Tyler Smith) set the early fractions of :28.2 and :57.4 while Big Ranger got away fifth after the early miscue. Coming first up towards the 1:26.1 third quarter, Big Ranger put away the field by the top of the stretch, coming home in :27.4 to win for owner Madison Global. Cash Money Hall (Kauffman) got up for second with Emerald Tom (MacDonald) third.
A $25,000 Ohio Selected Yearling Sale bred by Spring Haven Farm, Big Ranger is the first foal out of the Tactical Landing mare Big Blue Bird. The In Range colt now has $100,000 earned and is a perfect 2-for-2 after winning the $150,000 Next Generation last Saturday.
Rose Run Banker (In Range-Hot Chili Girl) flew down the stretch to win the second division in 1:56.1. Rose Run Banker got away seventh from post eight with Page as Rose Run Boom (Brett Miller) took the early lead at the :29 opening quarter. Not content to sit in the pocket, Chris Lems pulled Grape Crush to lead through the :58.2 half and 1:27.3 third quarter. Rose Run Banker was sitting second over, came three-wide around the last turn, and slingshot down the stretch to win by a length over Rose Run Boom and Grape Crush.
By In Range out of the Conway Hall mare Hot Chili Girl, Rose Run Banker was a $70,000 Ohio Selected Yearling Sale purchase from breeder Rose Run Farm. Ron Burke trains the colt for Burke Racing, Hatfield Stables, Weaver Bruscemi and Knox Services. After finishing third in last week’s Next Generation, Rose Run Banker has $43,000 earned in his first two lifetime starts.
Ur Ride Is Here (Brady Brown) set easy fractions and won at 9/1 in 1:59 to take his division of Sires Stakes action. Leaving from post five, Ur Ride Is Here (Ready For Moni-My Way The Highway) got to the quarter in :30.1 and half in 1:01.3. Heading towards the 1:30 third-quarter, the duo was pressured by the 1/5 favorite Super Mind (MacDonald) but had enough to come home and win by a length and three-quarters over Water Slide (Aaron Merriman) who got up for second while Pump Action (Justin Irvine) got the pocket trip to be third. Ur Ride Is Here is trained by Steve Schoeffel for owners Kathy Schoeffel, Daniel Goehle and James Reuther. The Ready For Moni colt is out of the Muscle Massive mare My Way the Highway and was a $16,000 Ohio Selected Yearling Sale purchase from breeder Midland Acres.
Ready Rusell (Noble) was the last OHSS winner Saturday in 1:55. The pair got away fifth from post six while Max The Mighty (Merriman) set the tone up front, posting fractions of 28 and 57.2. By the 1:25.3 third quarter, Ready Russell (Ready For Moni-Fortheloveoflindy) had pulled even with Max The Might and got up for the win by three lengths; Bitcoin King (Smith) was third. Deb Swartz trains the Ready For Moni gelding for Jeff Fought Racing, Brian Carsey, and David Fought. Out of the Cantab Hall mare Fortheloveoflindy, Ready Russell was a $37,000 Ohio Selected Yearling Sale purchase who now is 2-for-2 on the year after winning a non-winners of one event at Scioto with earnings of $31,000.
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.