Scioto: Big money on the line in Next Generation, Ohio Sires Stakes

Ohio-sired 2-year-olds and 3-year-olds were in the spotlight on Saturday at Eldorado Scioto Downs in The Next Generation, sponsored by Preferred Equine, and the Ohio Sires Stakes.

Magestic Seas captured the $150,000 Next Generation for filly pacers in 1:53 2/5.

The morning line favorite, who went off at 2-1, was expertly driven by Ronnie Wrenn Jr. for trainer Brian Brown. Taking their time to get to the lead during the 27 4/5 opening quarter, Wrenn Jr. backed the tempo down to the 57 second half. The field starting sprinting down the backside with Venice Blue Chip (Anthony MacDonald) coming first-up and then flushing Daisy's Star (Tyler Smith) from the three-hole. By the time they hit the three-quarters in 1:24 4/5, the field was stacked four in, four out.

In a tight finish, Magestic Seas held on to win by a neck over Seaside Diva (Chris Page) who fanned four-wide coming off the last turn. After coming first-up, Daisy's Star finished third with Venice Blue Chip fourth. The winner paid $6.60 to win.

"The drivers have done a good job not overdriving these babies in these races," said Brown. "I didn't want her to do too much, so the third quarter in 27 4/5 I figured we would have to pace a big last quarter to fend them off. She didn't have to, and Ronnie didn't push her, so I think there was more left.

"I want to thank a couple people, Brevin Lupton her groom, Danny Jones her trainer and Preferred Equine for helping sponsor this race."

The Downbytheseaside filly, bred by Andray Farm and Sergent Stables, sold at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale for $110,000. Magestic Seas, the fifth foal out of the mare Magestic Blue Chip by Rocknroll Hanover, is a half-sister to $876,454 winner Hellabalou (by Sweet Lou). She is owned by County Club Acres, Kirk Nichols and Scott Dillon.

Freshman sire Volstead finished 1-2 in the $150,000 Next Generation for filly trotters as Jurassic Hattie and Brett Miller went gate-to-wire to win in 1:56 2/5.

Going straight to the lead from post four, Miller settled Jurassic Hattie on top to the 28 1/5 opening quarter. After a soft 31 second second quarter, pocket-sitter Possibility (Aaron Merriman) sat in while Ronnie Gillespie pulled race favorite Sugar Instead at the 1:28 3/5 three-quarters.

Jurassic Hattie finished the race under a hand drive to win by 3 3/4 lengths for trainer Eric Nesselroad. Sugar Instead was second and Possibility third.

"He handed the lines to me and said race her," said Miller. "She felt really good and she felt like she was a really good-gaited trotter. When I got that 31 second quarter, I felt pretty comfortable."

Jerry Welch bred and owns the Volstead filly who is the tenth foal out of the Striking Sahbra mare High Gear Sahbra. Jurassic Hattie paid $8.60 to win.

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Spaaaanzano took the $150,000 Next Generation for 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings with Aaron Merriman on board in 1:56 2/5, a new stakes record.

The front-end held up once again as Spaaaanzano sprung off the gate from the seven-hole and made the early lead to the 28 3/5 opening quarter. Going to the 58 2/5 half, Merriman let the 9-5 favorite Tennessee Tom (Chris Page) take the lead. After the 1:27 4/5 three-quarters, Merriman pulled Spaaaanzano off the turn and dueled with Tennessee Tom, finishing a head in front. Deville Hill (Dan Noble) came from the back of the pack to finish third.

Chris Beaver trains Spaaaanzano for co-owners Spaaaartners, Bill Manes and Leo Fleming. The winner paid $6.40.

"This horse is really really professional," said Merriman. "I actually would rather have the outside with a young trotter than the one or two hole on a five-eighths-mile track, especially the first couple of starts.

"I was high on my horse to be honest with you. He's done everything right so far and he showed it today."

The Corraggioso gelding, bred by Timothy Stutzman, is the third foal out of the SJ's Caviar mare Grace N Charlie and a full brother to $189,044 earner Panzano, who was also trained by Beaver during his Ohio campaign.

Midwind Beach Boy (Page) went two-wide from fifth heading to three-quarters in the $150,000 The Next Generation colt and gelding pace, advanced into contention on the final bend, and then charged home widest in the lane to prevail by half a length in 1:52 4/5. Janelle Granny (Nick Clegg) turned in a valiant effort from first-up to get second and Hundred Dollar Man (Montrell Teague), who took the top past after the 27 second opening quarter and kept command through a 56 4/5 half and a 1:25 three-quarters, wound up third.

A $25,000 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale buy bred by Midwind Farms, Midwind Beach Boy is trained by Ron Burke for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Knox Services Inc., J&T Silva- Purnel & Libby and Ras Racing LLC.

Downbytheseaside's big night on the siring ledger continued in the Ohio Sires Stakes for sophomore colt and gelding pacers as his sons Seafire (Ronnie Wrenn Jr., 1:49 1/5) and The Real Way (Chris Page, 1:50 1/5) took their respective $55,000 tests.

Seafire, bred by Enos Weaver, is trained by Brian Brown for owners Country Club Acres Inc., Joelyn Ridder, Mark Kantrowitz and Scott Davis and The Real Way is a Ron Burke-trained homebred for Burke Racing Stable LLC., Weaver Bruscemi LLC. and Knox Services Inc. Let It Ride Stables Inc. is a co-owner as well.

--with files from Eldorado Scioto Downs--