Miami Valley hosts opening round Buckeye Series

Grove City, OH – Favorites reigned supreme in the Buckeye Stallion Series opening leg for three-year-old harness racing filly trotters and pacers at Miami Valley Gaming on Wednesday, May 1.  All four divisions of trotters were won by the favorites, while three of the five pacing divisions saw the favorites win.

In the opening BSS race of the year, Esteso (Creatine) with Chris Lems grabbed the lead heading to three-quarters and cruised to an easy win in 1:56.  It was the second win in three starts for the Dalton Walls trainee.  Esteso is owned by Walls, Bruce Soulsby, and Alan Weisenberg.

ESTESO REPLAY

In the second division, Trevor Smith swung Maxine’s Hill (What The Hill) three-wide at the top of the stretch and grabbed the lead mid-stretch on the way to a two-length win in 1:57.  Trained by Chris Beaver, she won for the first time in four starts.  She is owned by Beaver, Donald Robinson, VIP Internet Stable, and Mark Schwartz.

MAXINE’S HILL REPLAY

2023 Ohio Filly Trotter of the Year Sugar Instead (Volstead) with Brett Miller was an easy winner in the third division.  The filly sat mid-pack before making her move around the final turn, opening up to win by four lengths in 1:55.4, the fastest time of the trotting divisions.  Sugar Instead was making her first start of the year for trainer Virgil Morgan Jr. and owners Joyce McClelland and Larry Wills.

SUGAR INSTEAD REPLAY

In the final division for sophomore filly trotters, Tony Hall rallied Justasiam AS (Lionhunter), the Buckeye Stallion Series 2023 two-year-old filly trotting champion, around the final turn, taking the lead late in the stretch winning in 1:58.1.  It was the first race of the year for the filly who is trained by Anette Lorentzon and owned by ACL Stuteri AB.

JUSTASIAM AS REPLAY

In the first pacing division, Flying Bullets (Downbytheseaside) with Brett Miller went gate-to-wire to win by two lengths in the 1:52.1, the fastest of the five divisions.

It was the first start of the year for the filly.  Clair Umholtz trains Flying Bullets for Umholtz & Kennedy Racing.

FLYING BULLETS REPLAY

In the second division, Illegal (Western Vintage) with Kayne Kauffman sped off the gate and never looked back winning by two lengths in 1:52.4.  The filly was making her season debut for trainer Mike Polhamus who co-owns with Kevin McQuinn.

ILLEGAL REPLAY

The first non-favorite to win came in the third division when Lady Bridgerton (Bit Of A Legend N) with Jeremy Smith went three-wide coming off the last turn and turned on the jets to blow by the leaders to win by two lengths in 1:52.4.  It was the first start of the year for the Brian Georges trainee.  Kent Walker, Travis Kelley, Benjamin Jamison, and Curt Carey own the filly.

LADY BRIDGERTON REPLAY

Fearless Ginger (Fear The Dragon) with Tyler Smith went gate to wire to win the fourth division in 1:54. The filly fought off a late charge from Rock Ur Wings to win for the first time in three starts.  Tim Lane trains and owns Fearless Ginger.

FEARLESS GINGER REPLAY

The final division of the card went to Muddinup (Bit Of A Legend N) and Jeremy Smith.  Smith popped the pocket and went three-wide around the final turn rallying down the stretch to win by two lengths for trainer John Ackley in 1:53.2.  It was the first win in three starts for the filly who is owned by CT Stables and Thomas Cave.

MUDDINUP REPLAY

Buckeye Stallion Series action continues Thursday with three-year-old colt six divisions each of three-year-old colt pacers and trotters.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Frank Fraas, for the OHHA