Grove City, OH – Dan Noble had a successful night at MGM Northfield Park on Monday (June 9), winning three of the five $20,000 divisions in the second leg of the Buckeye Stallion Series for 3-year-old male trotters. None of the winners from the first leg of the BSS on May 23 at Eldorado Scioto Downs were able to repeat on Monday.
Noble scored BSS wins with Smoke One for Me, Along Came Tom, and Full Moon Howl.
Along Came Tom held off Tiny Tom for a photo-finish win in the second division. Leaving from the rail, Along Came Tom led at every call in :28.3, 1:00.1, and 1:28.3 but was challenged by Tiny Tom down the stretch. After taking the pocket trip, Tiny Tom moved to the passing lane and drew even with Along Came Tom as they neared the finish. Along Came Tom edged Tiny Tom by a head in 1:57.4. Hydroplane’n Henry was third. Along Came Tom is trained by Deborah Swartz, who is co-owner with Gail Impson. The 1:57.4 was a lifetime best for the Long Tom gelding. He has two wins in 10 lifetime starts with $21,670 in earnings.
Noble won with ease in the fifth division, guiding Full Moon Howl to victory by five lengths in a lifetime-best 1:56.1. The Jessica Smith trainee and 4-5 betting favorite led at every call in :28.1, :57.3, and 1:27 and was never seriously challenged. First-leg winner Tommy Count sat in the pocket but was unable to make a move on the leader down the stretch. As Full Moon Howl pulled away for his first seasonal win, Long Rocky Road surged past Tommy Count in the passing lane to finish second. Full Moon Howl has hit the board in 15 of 24 lifetime starts, recording seven wins and earning $66,548. The gelded son of Full Count is owned by Madisyn Smith and Jessica Smith.
Smoke One For Me won in 1:57 as the 1-2 betting favorite in the first division. Leaving from post position three, Noble drove the Long Tom gelding to the front and never looked back. He posted fractions of :28.2, :58.1, and 1:27 en route to winning by nearly two lengths. A Million Ansons, a 21-1 longshot, was second followed by Massive Hill in third. Smoke One For Me is trained by Christi Noble for owner Norman Rae Racing. He has hit the board in nine of 13 lifetime starts with four wins and earnings of $36,501.
In the third division, Letsgotoparis notched his first seasonal win in a lifetime-best 1:56.3. Kurt Sugg had the Edward Miller trainee in fourth as first-leg winner Rose Run Ari led at the first two calls in :28.2 and :57.4. Letsgotoparis was first up heading to the three-quarter pole and moved into second place as Rose Run Ari led in 1:27.2. The Mister Anson gelding took the lead entering the final stretch and pulled away to win by 2-1/2 lengths as Rose Run Atm passed Rose Run Ari on the outside to take second. Letsgotoparis is owned by Edward Miller and Ashley Dunn. He has hit the board in nine of 14 lifetime starts, recording five wins and $46,835 in earnings.
Jason Beattie drove Nelli Up to victory in 1:57.3 in the fourth division. Leaving from post six, Nelli Up was fourth at the first two calls as even-money favorite Power Hill led the way in :28.2 and :57.4. Nelli Up moved first over just past the halfway point and worked his way up alongside Power Hill entering the final stretch. The Ryan Miller trainee showed strong closing speed, pulling away to win by 2-1/2 lengths. Amazing Tom was second followed by Splurge On Uncle in third. Nelli Up has hit the board in 18 of 23 lifetime starts and has six wins and $57,216 in earnings. He is owned by Miller Racing Stable, Horseplay Racing Stable, Paul Hershberger, and Edward Marrinan.
Noble led all drivers with four wins on the 16-race card. In addition to his BSS victories, he also won with the Dan O’Mara-trained Rising Fire. Sugg, Justin Irvine, and Aaron Merriman tripled up as drivers, and Miller and John Wengerd doubled up as trainers.
The 2025 Buckeye Stallion Series continues June 19 with the second leg for 3-year-old filly trotters followed by the second leg for 3-year-old filly pacers on June 20. Both days of racing will be held at Eldorado Scioto Downs.