Scioto: Don'ttruckwithme, Night Surfer strike in Ohio Sires Stakes

Two $75,000 divisions of the Ohio Sires Stakes for 2-year-old colt and gelding pacers were held Saturday (July 25) at Eldorado Scioto Downs. Both races went in 1:52, but were won by horses in different stages of their initial campaign - Night Surfer prevailed in his first lifetime start, but it was Don'ttruckwithme who is now undefeated after taking his first three lifetime races in impressive fashion.

Getting off the car from post six, Chris Lems pointed Don'ttruckwithme to the front and never looked back, tripping the beams in 28, 56 4/5 and 1:24 1/5. Coming home in 27 4/5, the Catch The Fire gelding won by 2 1/2 lengths over Ocean Party (David Miller); First Grade (Chris Page) was third.

Don'ttruckwithme won the Next Generation on July 4th and followed that up with a win in the first leg of the Ohio Sires Stakes. Bred by Judy Roegner and out of her Real Desire mare Age Of Consent, Don'ttruckwithme now has $150,000 earned. Daren Harvey trains Don'ttruckwithme, who was a $37,000 purchase from the Ohio Selected Yearling Sale by Wayne Mast Jr., Eden Acres Farmstead and Kirk Nichols.

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Back in the first flight, eventual winner Night Surfer got away third from the rail while Jett James (Brett Miller) took the early lead, albeit parked, towards the 26 2/5 opening quarter. Marvin Luna kept Atlantic Ivey moving from post seven, and they made the front shortly thereafter before getting to the half in 55 3/5 and to the three-quarters in 1:24 3/5. Luke Hanners pulled Night Surfer midway down the backstretch in a first-over bid, then took the lead as the field came off the last turn. Posting a 26 3/5 last quarter, Night Surfer won by three-quarters of a length over North Rim (Page); Jett James was third.

Night Surfer, by Downbytheseaside and out of the Bettor's Delight mare Dark Force, was a $67,000 Ohio Selected Yearling Sale purchase from KAD Farms. Virgil Morgan Jr. trains the colt for Let It Ride Stables, Morrison Racing Stables and Steven Held.

Live action at Scioto Downs continues Monday (July 27) with five qualifiers starting at 10:00 a.m. (EDT) and available for viewing live on RTN. Evening racing continues Tuesday (July 28) and Wednesday (July 29) each with 13 races starting at 5:25 p.m. (EDT).

The 91-day 2026 Eldorado Scioto Downs regular season runs through Saturday, September 19. Races are held Tuesday-Saturday, with a special holiday card on Labor Day instead of the Tuesday card that week. The track will then re-open for the Breeders Crown, with eliminations held October 16-17 and the finals October 23-24. More information about all the racing action at Scioto can be found on the Eldorado Scioto Downs website.

--press release (Scioto)--