Columbus, OH – Despite early day rain, Ohio Super Night at Eldorado Scioto Downs started off with a bang on Saturday (Sept. 12) when the first $300,000 Ohio Sires Stakes Scarlet Championship race was won in track record time. Tight finishes and fast horses continued throughout the evening before a waterlogged but exuberant crowd.
Blue Ranger joined big brother Big Ranger on the Scioto stats sheet, winning the 2-year-old filly trot in a track record 1:53.1.
Aaron Merriman got Big Ranger away fifth from post five while Made For More (Ronnie Wrenn, Jr.) was first to the :27.2 opening quarter. After briefly letting Miz Ella Paige (Sam Widger) to the front, Made For More took back over to control the tempo to the :56.4 half. Kissme Ifyoucan (Austin Hanners) cruised down the backside and made the top just at as the field hit the 1:24.1 third quarter, leaving Blue Ranger to come first up. Coming off the turn Blue Ranger cruised towards the finish line, winning by three and a quarter lengths over Kissme Ifyoucan; Miz Ella Paige was third. Going off as the 8/5 favorite, Blue Ranger paid $5.20 to win.
“I was really surprised actually (to pick up the drive). I haven’t been following as close as I could you know, being off all summer, I’m just blessed to have some drives,” said Merriman. “She was very, very good…she’s very professional. She went pretty easy. Maybe it was kind of a blessing, where I missed all summer, so maybe I would have had a commitment.”
Blue Ranger, by In Range out of the Tactical Landing mare Big Blue Bird, was a $210,000 Ohio Selected Yearling Sale purchase from breeders Spring Haven Farm. Owned by Bender Sweden, the Marcus Melander trainee now has $193,500 earned in four lifetime starts. Saturday’s victory was her second on the year, lowering her lifetime mark by a second and taking two fifths of a second off the track record, set by Godusa in 2025.
2-year-old Colt Pace
Another track record performance, this time in serious rain, was a battle to the finish with Don’ttruckwithme prevailing in 1:49.4 with Mike Wilder at the lines for Daren Harvey.
Luke Hanners took Night Surfer to the front from post nine and hit the quarter in :26.2. Jett James (Brett Miller) swiftly moved to the lead but it was short-lived as Night Surfer was back on top before the :53.4 half. Don’ttruckwithme sat in the three hole and Wilder pulled him going to the 1:21.4 third-quarter. Ocean Party (Tim Tetrick) came from the back second over and the two battled it out down the stretch. In a tight photo, it was Don’ttruckwithme who came out on top by a nose over Ocean Party; Night Surfer was third. Don’ttruckwithme, the 5/2 co-second choice, paid $7.80 to win.
Chris Lems has driven Don’ttruckwithme all season, but due to an accident Friday, Wilder picked up the drive late.
“Lems is a great friend of mine and he’s done a whale of a job with this colt,” said Wilder. “Daren said he’s been real kind with him all year and I think he’s ready to race. So hats off to Chris for getting this colt ready for this kind of race.
“They were dualling pretty early. I didn’t really want to come first up, but they worked real hard and he told me the colt would be really good tonight and he was right. It was a thrill. I didn’t know if I was able to hold Timmy off. The colt did all the work, he just dug in.”
An emotional Harvey was full of praise for Lems.
“Let’s just say from the beginning, Chris Lems, he was it. He got the horse ready for this. Shew, my emotions are heavy with that. I’ve had a great opportunity over my years watching Mike over at The Meadows. He’s an amazing horseman. He put in an incredible effort, that was tight.”
Don’ttruckwithme, by Catch The Fire out of the Real Desire mare Age of Consent, was a $37,000 Ohio Selected Yearling Sale purchase from breeder Judy Roegner. The track record performance was Don’ttruckwithme’s sixth win in eight starts and pushed the gelding’s earnings to $415,960 for owners Wayne Mast, Jr., Eden Acres Farmstead and Kirk Nichols. The previous track record of 1:50.2 was set in 2020 by Charlie May.
2-year-old Colt Trot
Cool Julio picked a great evening to break his maiden winning the 2-year-old colt trot in 1:55 for trainer Jeff Smith. Roll’n In Moni (Brett Miller) took the early lead going to the :28.2 opening quarter but when he became a bit steppy, Debt Free (Wrenn) took over and sent the field to the :57.2 half. Tyler Smith had Cool Julio sitting fifth and was out and moving by the half, but was still fourth at the three-quarter pole. Coming down the stretch, Cool Julio won by a length over Mind On My Moni (Mike Wilder); Debt Free was third. Going off as the 5/2 third choice, Cool Julio paid $7.60 to win.
“It’s a good time to break his maiden, right?” said Smith. “We knew all along this horse had plenty of speed, it was just his manners. It’s not that like he’s real hot or anything, he’s so quick he don’t really know how to get in gear. But tonight, I got to hang on to him and in that last turn, I was just like stay trotting.
“Actually Page’s horse kinda pulled up right there and I had to check him a little bit (on the backside) and I thought aw, he’s gonna run. Northfield was my fault, but over and over he’s gotten more mature and he’s a really nice colt.
“It’s unbelievable (to win for his parents). My dad and mom work so hard and they deserve it more than anybody.”
Cool Julio, by Cuatro De Julio out of the Chapter Seven mare Hit The Books, was a $52,000 Ohio Selected Yearling Sale purchase from breeder Double Spring Farm. Saturday’s victory was his seventh lifetime start and the gelding now has $190,410 in earnings for owner TDTrot.
2-year-old Filly Pace
A dual down the stretch between a co-world record holder and an 18/1 shot saw Cleveland Darby and Chris Page win the 2-year-old filly pace by a length at long odds in 1:51.
Page got Cleveland Darby away fourth and pulled after the :54.2 half. Getting a second over trip behind Thought I Had It (Trevor Smith), Cleveland Darby made the lead part-way through the last turn and was able to fend off track record holder Tempting Flames for the win; Jar Of Hearts (Ronnie Gillespie) got up for third. Cleveland Darby, who went off at 18/1, paid $39.80 to win.
“Trust the process…because she’s been just a little bit hot,” said Page. “She’s maturing and that’s one. Two, Ronnie’s done a great job rigging this filly. He adapts through the season with changes. We’ve opened her all the way up; tonight we were able to take the ear hood off and put ear plugs in her. She’s just maturing and everything was geared her up for tonight and it’s cool when it works out.
“I knew I was going forward out of the gate, I didn’t know where I was getting away. When David was behind me with the fast fractions and Trevor pulled and I was second up, it was just a dream trip, it really was. Then it just comes down to the best filly at the light.”
Cleveland Darby, by Downbytheseaside out of the McArdle mare Loreenas Ruffian, was bred by Carl Howard and is owned by Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi, R A S Racing and Larry Karr. The win was her fifth in eight starts and she now has $306,000 in earnings.
The 91-day 2026 Eldorado Scioto Downs regular season is coming to a close, running through Saturday, September 19. Races will be held next week Tuesday-Thursday and Saturday; there is no live racing on Friday (September 18) to accommodate horsemen attending the Ohio Selected Yearling Sale. The track will then re-open for the Breeders Crown, with eliminations held October 16-17 and the finals October 23-24. More information about all the racing action at Scioto can be found on the Eldorado Scioto Downs website.