Northfield, OH – Following an uncharacteristic break in the $56,000 Ohio State Fair at Eldorado Scioto Downs on July 31, Ready Russell rebounded and decisively won his $50,000 division of Ohio Sires Stakes for 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters at MGM Northfield Park in Sunday evening’s fastest of the three divisions.
Sent off as the heavy 1-9 favorite, Ready Russell (Ready For Moni-Fortheloveoflindy) and driver Dan Noble took up pocket position behind Max The Mighty (Aaron Merriman) who hustled off the gate entering the first turn.
After making the front, Max The Mighty jumped off stride allowing Ready Russell to easily inherit the lead as the field entered the backstretch.
Ready Russell trotted to the quarter in :29.2, and to the half in :59.3. He only started to feel pressure entering the backstretch for the final time when Where Theres Smoke (Justin Irvine) made a gallant effort.
At the three-quarters in 1:27.4, Noble stepped on the gas and Ready Russell responded by taking off like a rocket, winning confidently by 10-3/4 lengths in 1:56.2. Grape Crush (Chris Lems) was second and Where Theres Smoke was third.
Ready Russell is owned by Jeff Fought Racing, Brian Carsey, and David Fought. The gelding is trained by Deborah Swartz and now has earnings of $83,800. He has four victories in his first five lifetime starts and three of his victories are in Ohio Sires Stakes action.
In the evening’s first $50,000 division, Special Moni (Ready For Moni-Special Invitation) blew by rivals late in the stretch to win convincingly.
Soulful Saul (Carson Conrad) and Pump Action (Justin Irvine) were both sent to the lead off the gate entering the first turn. Pump Action wanted the lead and made an aggressive move to gain his desired position before the :28.3 first quarter.
Entering the far turn, Ur Ride Is Here (Chris Lems), who had been sitting third at the quarter, sprinted to the front. He continued to lead the way through the half in :57.4, while Soulful Saul applied pressure first-over. The pair dueled into the backstretch until finally Soulful Saul cleared before the three-quarters in 1:26.2.
Turning for home, Eleven Bang Bang (Trevor Smith) tipped outside of Soulful Saul but didn’t go by the leader. Special Moni (Tyler Smith) had enough left in the tank to win by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:56.4. Soulful Saul held on for second and Eleven Bang Bang was third.
Owned by Christopher Beaver, Spaaaartners, and Tim Homan, the Beaver trainee pushed his career earnings to $50,000 with his second lifetime win.
In the second division, Bitcoin King (Uncle Peter-Massive Girl) made a big mid-race move to win his $50,000 split.
There were several good beginnings to the mile with Cash Money Hall (Kayne Kauffman), Water Slide (Aaron Merriman), and Super Mind (Anthony MacDonald) all battling for position. After sorting themselves out, Super Mind made his way to the lead before the :29.3 first quarter.
After a leisurely 1:00.1 first half, MacDonald and Super Mind may have thought they would have things their own way, but they would have guessed wrong, because at the three-quarters in 1:29, they suddenly had a contingent of pursuers challenging for the lead.
Turning for home, Super Mind began to give way and Bitcoin King (Tyler Smith) stormed down the center of the racetrack to win by 3-3/4 lengths in 1:58.2.
Bitcoin King is owned by Christopher Beaver and the Part Time Stable. He now has career earnings of $39,057.
Cash Money Hall finished second but was placed third because of a lapped on break at the wire. Water Slide, who was third, was placed second.