Columbus, OH — The Buckeye Stallion Series for 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings returned to Eldorado Scioto Downs on Thursday (Aug. 15) with four divisions going for $20,000 each.
Vekna and trainer-driver Kayne Kauffman took the fastest division in 1:57.2. Cowboy Poker and Dan Noble had the early lead and set fractions of :28.4 and :59.1. Vandy Lane (Chris Lems) pulled first-over at the half and made the lead midway up the backside. Vekna followed third-over and tipped three-wide just before the 1:28.1 three-quarters. Posting a :28.1 last quarter, Vekna won by a neck over Vandy Lane. Full Moon Howl (Ronnie Gillespie) rallied for third.
Vekna, by Enterprise, was an $11,000 Blooded Horse Sale purchase as a yearling and is owned by Kauffman’s wife, Natalie. The gelding is now four for five, with $31,122 earned.
Gillespie also took a division as a trainer-driver, winning the first division in 1:58 with Sweet Harmony. The duo left from post eight and led at every call, tripping the beam in :28.2, :57.4 and 1:27.2. Sweet Harmony won by 3-1/2 lengths over Burnindownthehouse (Kauffman); favorite Tom Cruiser (Lems) was third.
Sweet Harmony, by Uncle Peter, was a $27,000 Ohio Select Sale purchase. Anthony Miller owns the gelding, who has five wins in eight starts and $27,383 in earnings.
Austin Hanners and Mister Squeeze took a division for trainer Steve Carter in 1:58.4. Long Rocky Road (Alex Hawk) was parked from post six towards the :28.2 opening quarter and led the field through the :59.4 half and 1:29 three-quarters. Hanners pulled Mister Squeeze first-over as the field went under the line for the first time and steadily made up ground to battle the leader through the last turn and down the stretch, with neither wanting to give way. In the end, Mister Squeeze won by a half length over Long Rocky Road; Stone Noble Lane (Jeff Nisonger) got up for third.
Part Time Stable owns the Muscle Up The Goal gelding, who broke his maiden with the win. Mister Squeeze now has $15,650 earned in six seasonal starts.
Oaxaca Harry was the other winner on the evening, taking his division in 1:59 with Tyler Smith at the lines. Grooved Pavement (Aaron Merriman) had the early lead at the :29.2 quarter. Going towards the :59.4 half, Smith pulled Oaxaca Harry first-over and continued on the grind as the field passed by the 1:28.4 three-quarters. Oaxaca Harry won by 2-1/4 lengths over a closing Nothing But Kat (Justin Irvine); Quintuplet (Dan Noble) saved third after breaking at the start.
Oaxaca Harry, by Long Tom, was a $15,000 Ohio Select Sale purchase and is owned by Bet The House. The gelding now has $22,640 earned in four starts, two of which are wins in the Buckeye Stallion Series.
Racing at Scioto continues with Ohio Sires Stakes for 2-year-old filly pacers on Friday (Aug. 16). On Saturday (Aug. 17), the featured races will be the $100,000 #SendItIn Invitational Pace for older horses, the $100,000 Cleopatra Invitational for pacing mares, and the re-scheduled Ohio Sires Stakes for 2-year-old filly trotters. First post is 5:45 p.m.