Columbus, OH – Speedy fillies went behind the gate in three $50,000 divisions of the Ohio Sires Stakes for 2-year-old female pacers on Friday (July 24) at Eldorado Scioto Downs.
An easy winner in 1:51.3, David Miller piloted the fastest divisional winner, Tempting Flames. Originally getting away in the pocket, Miller pulled Tempting Flames just at the :28 quarter and led through fractions of :56.4 and 1:24.3. Coming home in :27, Tempting Flames won by 2-1/4 lengths over Late Night Legend (driven by Luke Hanners), with Yourgonaloveme (Ronnie Gillespie) third.
Tempting Flames, by Catch The Fire out of the McArdle mare Hotshot Temptress, was a $52,000 Ohio Selected Yearling Sale purchase from breeder Ivy Holdings. Owned by William Hartt and trained by Michael Hitchcock, Tempting Flames now has $75,000 earned in three lifetime starts.
Chris Page gave Cleveland Darby the perfect pocket trip and won the first division in 1:52.4. Breadnbutterz (Chris Lems) took the early lead and set fractions of :27.3, :56 and 1:24.1. Page pulled Cleveland Darby midway through the last turn and drew clear to win by 2-1/2 lengths. Breadnbutterz was second, while Mirical (Miller) finished third.
Cleveland Darby, by Downbytheseaside out of the McArdle mare Loreenas Ruffian, was bred by Carl Howard. Owned by Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi, R A S Racing and Larry Karr, the Ron Burke trainee has $37,000 in three lifetime starts.
The last division was won in gate-to-wire fashion by Party Up and Miller in 1:53.1. Setting fractions of :27.1, :56 and 1:25, Party Up comfortably paced home to win by a quarter-length over Real Classy (Page); Splendid Station (Justin Irvine) was third.
Bred by Vieux Carre Farms, the Lather Up filly out of the Artsplace mare Artchitecture, was a $17,000 yearling sale purchase from Harrisburg. Owned by Morrison Racing and trained by Joe Bongiorno, Party Up now has $50,000 earned in two lifetime OHSS starts.
Ohio Sires Stakes action continues at Scioto on Saturday (July 25) when two $75,000 divisions go to post for 2-year-old pacing colts. The first division goes off as race one, with an off time of 5:25 p.m. (EDT); the second division is race number 11 on the 15 race card.
The 91-day 2026 Eldorado Scioto Downs regular season runs through Saturday, Sept. 19. Races are held Tuesday-Saturday, with a special holiday card on Labor Day instead of the Tuesday card that week. The track will then re-open for the Breeders Crown, with eliminations held Oct. 16-17 and the finals Oct. 23-24.
More information about all the racing action at Scioto can be found on the Eldorado Scioto Downs website.
ROSE RUN CHAMP HEADLINES BSS FOR FRESHMAN MALE PACERS
by Wes Mayberry, for the OHHA
Rose Run Champ recorded the fastest mile of four $20,000 divisions of the second leg of the Buckeye Stallion Series for freshman male pacers at Eldorado Scioto Downs on Friday (July 24).
In sixth place and trailing the leader by 2-3/4 lengths entering the final stretch, Rose Run Champ (Brett Miller) rallied to win by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:55.1. It was the first career win for the Downbytheseaside gelding, increasing his earnings to $14,280 in four starts. Kintsugi (Tyler Smith) was second followed by Kb Moneyball (Ronnie Gillespie) in third. Rose Run Champ is trained by Tim Twaddle for owner At The Wire Farms.
Declamation (Chris Page) won the first division by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:55.2 for trainer Ron Burke and owner W Donovan. The Downbytheseaside gelding has a 1-1-1 record with earnings of $27,300 in four starts. Hear The Thunder (Chris Lems) and Monte Be Good (Brett Miller) rounded out the top three.
Into The Blaze took the fourth division in 1:55.3 with Gillespie as trainer and driver. The Catch The Fire gelding was in fourth place as the field passed the first three calls in :28.1, :58.4, and 1:28.1. Two-and-a-half lengths behind leader Mental Up (Kayne Kauffman) entering the final stretch, Into The Blaze used a late burst to edge Mental Up by a neck at the line to win in a lifetime-best 1:55.3. Dream Ignited (Luke Ebersole) was third. Into The Blaze is now 3-for-3 on the season with $21,607 in earnings. He is owned by Gillespie, Adam Friedland, and Jacob Beard.
In his debut purse start, Route Fifty (Austin Hanners) won the third division by 3-3/4 lengths in 1:56.3. The Downbytheseaside gelding went off with 13-1 odds and paid $29.40 to win. He was in fifth place and trailed leader Eagle Spirit (Gillespie) by over four lengths at the three-quarter pole before rallying to win. Individual Medley (Marvin Luna) and Eagle Spirit rounded out the top three finishers. Route Fifty is trained by Virgil Morgan Jr. for owners Country Club Acres, Joe Sbrocco, Wingfield Brothers, and JAF Racing.
The Buckeye Stallion Series continues Aug. 7 with the fourth leg for sophomore filly pacers at Eldorado Scioto Downs.