Scioto: Analysis for Saturday 9/12/26

BEST BET: SEASIDE CHARM (5th)

SPOT PLAY: BLUE RANGER (3rd)

Race 1: Non-winners 10 races or $60,000 life to be claimed for $47,500 - Pick 5

(1) RIDER HANOVER has been a consistent performer in this class and even owns a win two starts back. Four-year-old moves inside tonight and should be the chalk. (4) SS DRUIDSTONE is another one getting an improved post and I expect we may see some early speed this week; playable in Pick 5. (2) KOBE HANOVER comes in from Northfield with fine form. Can he carry that over to the slightly larger oval? (10) INTERSTATEDAYDREAM needs to work out a trip from the second tier but can definitely get a nice piece. Page chose here over my top two, but that is likely a barn loyalty thing.

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Race 2: Non-winners $11,501 in last 4 or 8 races or $70,000 life

(2) PARIS’S DRAGON drops to this level tonight and he’s right at home in this class. Burke trainee might not fire out but he’ll likely be making an aggressive early move. (10) HOWABOUTAYANKEE is probably at his best one level lower, though you could say that about many in this field. He can certainly win with a clean trip. (1) EXTRA SUDS is solid from off the pace; needs the right setup.

Race 3: $300K Ohio Sire Stakes 2YO Filly Trot - Pick 4

(5) BLUE RANGER seemingly needed more seasoning and didn’t debut until August when she was a decent third. Last time out she was never asked in the stretch while drawing clear with ease. She seems to be getting better with experience and should get a hot pace to chase. (1) MADE FOR MORE has yet to finish worse than second in seven career starts. She’s the filly to beat (and Wrenn chose her over my selection) but one that will have to navigate plenty of other leavers coming at her from the outside. (3) KISSME IFYOUCAN was on a roll before running into the undefeated divisional leader Wall Of Fame at The Red Mile. She got a few weeks to freshen up for this and could be a bit of a price play.

Race 4: Open Pace

(5) BETTER IS NICE may not still be the horse that won $1.2 million in his career but he’s climbed the ladder nicely and landed in what seems to be a weaker Open than the last couple of weeks. (7) WICKED CHARACTER only moves in one slot on the gate but that could be enough to see him gun out for the front as well; dangerous if he makes it. (9) ADMIRAL HILL returned on August 30 from a scratched-lame line back on July 6 and didn’t exactly look smooth in the early stages. That said, he finished up the mile with good energy and could benefit from that mile.

Race 5: $300K Ohio Sire Stakes 3YO Filly Pace

(4) SEASIDE CHARM seemingly came up flat last time after missing 31 days. In reality it was just that she was facing perhaps the best 3-year-old pacing filly in the country in Miss Jum Jabber. She’s perfect in her last two starts in OHSS here and should offer fair value. (2) RODEO DANCER hasn’t been out in 43 days but did get a sharp qualifier over the track to tighten up for tonight. Her record all year has been superb. (3) VANNA BY THE RIVER is the clear speed on the gate and she should be in prime position to succeed.

Race 6: $300K Ohio Sire Stakes 2YO Colt Trot

(3) DEBT FREE and (2) MIND ON MY MONI form a strong tandem on the inside of the gate for trainer Vernon Beachy and you have to think one of them will get the job done. They are a combined 10 of 13 in the win column this year. (1) ILUVMYMONI also has a sparkling career record, but I could see the inside post presenting some problems with the stablemates and perhaps others bearing down early.

Race 7: $300K Ohio Sire Stakes 2YO Filly Pace - $10K GTD Pick 4

(9) TEMPTING FLAMES was done no favors at the post draw but it may not matter. She’s gone multiple winning miles faster than any of these have travelled in their careers. (6) PARTY UP took the week off in her last start and seems likely to revert to her early speed ways now. She’ll be a player but needs to find a second or two. (2) BREADNBUTTERZ will also be firing off the wings of the gate; can grab an exotics slice. (7) CLEVELAND DARBY has plenty of talent and only needs a smooth trip along with a subpar effort from the top one to have a win chance.

Race 8: $300K Ohio Sire Stakes 2YO Colt Pace

(4) JETT JAMES has been able to blaze some fast fractions and keep going on the engine, extending his winning streak to three. He gets the narrow edge on two very credible rivals in (3) DON’TTRUCKWITH ME and (9) NIGHT SURFER. The former has been finishing strong in his last two with no chance due to the pace in front while the latter is undefeated in four starts but stuck with a difficult post. The trip won’t be quite as easy for the Downbytheseaside colt tonight.

Race 9: $300K Ohio Sire Stakes 3YO Filly Trot

(5) CHIP SHOT overcame the eight-hole at Northfield last time. If that doesn’t tell you her worth, nothing will. She isn’t a standout but is very versatile and can win from anywhere. (9) SETYOURSIGHTSHIGH finally gets away from some of the best filly trotters in the sport and should perk up nicely. (4) MOOTER TOOTER could be a contender if she gets a fast pace to set up her rally.

Race 10: $300K Ohio Sire Stakes 3YO Colt Trot

(9) BIG RANGER returns to the races after a narrow nose defeat in the August 8 Hambletonian. While it has been five weeks since that race and he’s stuck in post nine, it shouldn’t matter one bit. He could probably spot this field 10 lengths and trot right past. (3) ROSE RUN BOOM should fire to the front here and sit no worse than the pocket early. That trip will give him every opportunity to get second. (1) TOM LARGO hasn’t been worse than second this year in 11 starts, so another obvious exacta player.

Race 11: $250K Charlie Hill Memorial Trot - $7.5K GTD Pick 5

(2) ON TO NORWAY has one of the best career records in the history of the sport – 36 for 43 in the win column. He’s arguably the best older trotter in the sport and while he didn’t get an invitation to the International Trot (or maybe didn’t accept), he’ll get to strut his stuff in Ohio. (1) MR MOUTON has the raw speed to fire out from the inside and make it tough on the rest of the field, but I doubt the top one will let him control the race for too long. (3) EMOTICON LEGACY shows up every week. He lacks the early speed of the others and may be at the mercy of the race setup.

Race 12: $300K Ohio Sire Stakes 3YO Colt Pace

(1) TSUNAMI SEAS has three sub 1:50 wins this year while the rest of the field combined has just one. Last time he won by open lengths with the whip tucked away. (4) MYBOYPANK changes barns on paper but that is more of a clerical move than an actual one. Gelding was rolling along until recently. Lasix added tonight could be the cure. (7) UP IN PLACE has questions to answer in terms of the recent scratched-injured line and 42 days off. That said, he’s undefeated this year and getting a Hall of Fame driver this week. (2) WHEN IS PARADE is a fade for me off a career-best mile where he chased a fast pace and had a great trip while all out in the win.

Race 13: $260K Jim Ewart Memorial - $15K GTD Pick 4

(1) DANDY IDEAL was out of this world in the Dan Patch and came back to Earth last time in the Always B Miki at Pocono. A short rest with a qualifier in the middle should be just what he needs to perk up, and it doesn’t hurt that he’ll likely be sitting the pocket behind (6) FOR ONCE INMY LIFE. The latter has made over $750K lifetime and yet is just now in career form. You can’t fault him for the fourth last time in a 1:46 4/5 Canadian record mile. (3) BYTHEMISSAL has a great career record over this track. Two back he’s feelings were likely hurt when part of a 52 3/5 half and the follow-up effort left him no chance from the back. He could be a surprise in here. (7) KEN HANOVER wasn’t done any favors with the outside draw; needs a trip.

Race 14: $50K Jim Ewart Memorial Consolation

(2) SURREAL IDEAL didn’t get into the Ewart but perhaps that was for the best as this is a much easier spot. Wilder can let the early dust settle and make a quick move to the front from this post. (9) TWISTED DESTINY starts from the second tier and should get away close enough to make his way into the outer. He’s as fast as any with the right trip. (5) FUSION and (4) CALICOJACK HANOVER are both coming down from Canada and either could win if the journey is smooth.

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Race 15: Non-winners $8,001 in last 4 or 6 races or $55,000 life

(4) OHOHOH IM ON FIRE went crazy-fast on the engine last time and paid the price. Better rating here can produce a better result. (5) BOOMERAND dropped and popped most recently. His prior effort in this class wasn’t bad at all. (6) DOWNBYTHEWATER was up a level last time out and has a chance to awaken versus this group.

Race 16: Non-winners $5,001 in last 4

This race seems like a bit of a crapshoot. I’ll try (5) THREEMARGARITASHOT, who has been holding his own on the fair scene and picks up an aggressive driver tonight. (3) OUTER BANKS was second and third in his last two tries in this class; should be firing out. (4) ANTS MARCHING had some ability as a younger horse but never put it all together. Miller takes over the lines here and should have him in play.