Hollywood Dayton: Champions crowned in Buckeye Stallion Series

Three track records fell by the wayside in the eight $60,000 Buckeye Stallion Series Championships for rookies and sophomores of both sexes and gaits on Saturday night at Hollywood Gaming Dayton Raceway. The Buckeye Stallion Series is the second-level sire stakes program in Ohio, comparable to the Excelsior "A" Series in New York or the Pennsylvania Stallion Series in the Keystone State.

Bathsheba AS (Elliott Deaton), a daughter of Lionhunter bred and owned by ACL Stuteri AB, kicked off the program with a 1:58 win from off the pace in the 2-year-old filly trot championship, breaking her maiden and the track record for the division. Anette Lorentzon trains the victor, who paid $63.20 to win.

The next track record that went down was in the 2-year-old colt and gelding pace, courtesy of Twig (Chris Page), who took the lead past the opening quarter and kept going to a 1:52 1/5 mark for driver Chris Page, trainer Mike Polhamus, and owner/breeder Julie Farley. Twig, a son of Mr Wiggles, is now seven-for-eight in 2020, has earned $78,000, and returned $5.00 to win.

Snowmoon (Tyler Smith) had to wait until the 14th race nightcap to compete, but he meant business when he finally got to the oval as the 3-year-old gray gelding by Mr Wiggles motored through panels of 26 2/5, 54 3/5, and 1:21 4/5 on his way to a three length decision in a track record 1:50 1/5 for driver Tyler Smith and owner/trainer Jessica Smith. Snowmoon is now an 11-time winner and has pocketed $95,460. He paid $9.80 to win as a 7-2 offering.

Page and Smith wound up with two Buckeye Stallion Series Championships each as Page also won the 2-year-old filly pace with Smothastenesewisky, by Nob Hill High, in 1:53 2/5 for owner/trainer Brian Haynes, and Smith also bagged the 3-year-old filly pace with Hoochie Girl, a daughter of Mister Big in 1:53 for trainer Ryan Miller and owners Miller Racing Stable Inc., Chris Gilbert, Chad Howell, and Janie Hartley.

Trainer-driver Hugh "Sandy" Beatty also grabbed a pair of Buckeye Stallion Series Championships, taking the 2-year-old colt and gelding trot with Ilikedecupcakes, a colt by Dejarmbro who scored gamely from first-up in 1:57 4/5 for breeder/owner William Johnson II, and the 3-year-old filly trot with Muskingum, a daughter of Triumphant Caviar, off a second-over journey in 1:55 4/5. Beatty also co-owns Muskingum with Larry Riffe, William Johnson II, and Roy Thacker Jr.

Enforce The Law (David Miller), a gelding by Triumphant Caviar, rounded out the Buckeye Stallion Series champions as he was a 1:55 1/5 winner in the sophomore colt and gelding trot. He took the lead from first-up going to the 1:25 3/5 three-quarters and drew off to a 5 3/4 length win for owner/trainer Joseph Kramp.