Page scores a triple in Buckeye Stallion Series

Grove City, Ohio –The fifth leg of the Buckeye Stallion Series continued on Monday (Sept. 16) at the Delaware County Fair. Four harness racing divisions each of freshmen filly and sophomore colt pacers took center stage. Each division boasted a purse of $20,000. Driver Chris Page scored three series wins while Eric Goodell won two.

Downbythedanceclub and Page took the second colt division in 1:52.2. The gelded son of Downbytheseaside got away in the middle of the pack as the field moved toward the :27.4 first quarter. Downbythedanceclub flushed cover passing the half in :56.1.  After the 1:23.3 third quarter pole, Downbythedanceclub pulled three-wide to swoop the leader in his final strides.

DOWNBYTHEDANCECLUB REPLAY

High On The Hill (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) finished second with Rainrock (Aaron Merriman) third.

Downbythedanceclub has won four of nine in his sophomore season. He has now earned $54,000 lifetime. Ron Burke trains for Burke Racing Stable, Beasty LLC, Kitefield Stable, and J&T Silva- Purnel & Libby. Robert Key bred Downbythedanceclub.

Page scored again with Cheyenne Tuff (Well Said) in the third division of colts. The gelding got away fifth and stayed patient as the opening fractions came in a :26.4 and :55. Heading to the 1:23.4 three-quarters marker, Cheyenne Tuff followed cover. He was three-wide off the turn and marched for home. Cheyenne Tough tripped the wire in 1:52.1 to produce the fastest division of the day.

Nocrynintheuber (Trevor Smith) was second and Fear The Image (Brett Miller) rounded out the trifecta.

The victory was the first series win for Cheyenne Tuff. With $63,402 in the bank, he has hit the board 12 of 15 tries. Burke conditions for Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi. Cheyenee Tuff was bred by Ruth Altmeyer and Richard Kelson.

CHEYENNE TUFF REPLAY

Page earned his third victory in an upset with 38-1 Moonlit Romance (Rodeo Romeo) in the fourth division of filly pacers. The two-year-old was urged first up after the :28. opening quarter. Moonlit Romance challenged the leader while passing the half in :58.1 and finally put a nose in front at the 1:27.2 three-quarters. Holding off a late charge from Anna Loves Bananas (Merriman), Moonlight Romance scored in 1:56.

Anna Loves Bananas finished second with Seaside Wishes (Kayne Kauffman) third.

MOONLIT ROMANCE REPLAY

It was the second lifetime victory for Moonlit Romance. The Steve Bauder trainee has earned $19,960 in only six starts. Co-breeders Donald Robinson and Robert Mondillo own Moonlight Romance alongside Michael Dean Robinson.

At 7-1, Dancin Moon (Dancin Yankee) produced a mild upset in the first colt division. Goodell settled Dancin Moon into the middle of the pack as Threemargaritashot (Marc St. Louis Jr.) and Jd’s Zack Atack (Dan Nobe) battled to the :26.2 opening quarter. Dancin Moon was still gapped back to fourth as the field passed the half in :54. Goodell urged the Dancin Yankee gelding to follow cover while heading to the 1:24. three-quarters pole. Into the final turn, Dancin Moon pulled three-wide to win in 1:54.2.

Jd’s Zack Atack held on for second while Rockntheroad (Miller) rallied for third.

DANCIN MOON REPLAY

Dancin Moon is conditioned by Herman Hagerman. The victory pushed Dancin Moon over $100,000 in lifetime earnings. He has won seven of 18 starts this season for Hagerman Racing, Charles Reeve, and Melinda Hershberger. He was bred by Spring Haven Farm.

Goodell notched his second series win of the day with My Hare Legend (Bit Of A Legend N) in the third division of fillies. She went wire to wire, setting fractions in :28.2, :57.2, and 1:26.1. My Hare Legend opened up in the final turn to win by seven lengths in 1:54.3.

Sunonmybuns (Page) finished second and Rose Run Aimee (Kauffman) was third.

It was the second series win for My Hare Legend. She has earned $33,950 in seven starts under Logan Ebersole. My Hare Legend is owned by Ronald Rust and was bred by Schare Adams.

Legendary Noble took the final division of sophomore colt pacers in 1:52.3. After the dust settled, Legendary Noble made his move for the front at the :28. opening quarter. Guided by D. Noble, the gelded son of Bit Of A Legend N set remaining fractions in :57.1 and 1:25 before stopping the clock.

MY HARE LEGEND REPLAY

Twenty Five (Page) was second while Attention Span (Brady Galliers) finished third.

Legendary Noble has hit the board 14 of 18 tries this season. Trained by Christi Noble, he has earned $45,172 for Norman Rae Racing. Legendary Noble was bred by Carol Jean Noble.

Guard The Fire (Catch The Fire) set a new lifetime mark of 1:54.2 in the second division of fillies. She cleared the front and never looked back. Guided by Cameron McCown, Guard The Fire set fractions in :27.2, :56.3, and 1:26.1 before cruising across the wire with five lengths to spare.

Judge Me Again (Merriman) finished second and Princess Di (Miller) was third.

GUARD THE FIRE REPLAY

Guard The Fire has won three of her seven lifetime starts under trainer Brian Brown. All victories have been scored in the Buckeye Stallion Series. Guard The Fire has earned $31,960 for owner Hutchison Harness. She was bred by CT Stables.

The first division of filly pacers was declared no contest after an accident occurred directly out of the gate. No horses or drivers were injured.

Buckeye Stallion Series action continues with freshmen filly trotters on Tuesday (Sept. 17) at the Delaware County Fair. First race post is 1:00PM.

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

by Ashley Dailey, for the OHHA