Scioto: Ohio Sires Stakes Scarlet champions crowned

Sophomores Big Ranger and Seaside Shuffle repeated their 2-year-old success during Ohio Super Night on Saturday (Sept. 12) at Eldorado Scioto Downs.

Scioto hosted eight $300,000 Ohio Sires Stakes Scarlet Championship finals on Saturday, with 3-year-old trotting colt Big Ranger and 3-year-old pacing filly Seaside Shuffle each added a second title to their respective resumes. Sophomore trotting filly Mooter Tooter and 3-year-old male pacer Tsunami Seas also prevailed in their divisional finals.

On the toteboard he was 1-9, and Big Ranger was 1-9 the best in the $300,000 Ohio Sires Stakes Scarlet Championship for 3-year-old male trotters. Leaving from the outside post nine for driver Tim Tetrick, Big Ranger floated away and patiently stalked Tom Largo (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) through a 27 4/5 opening quarter. Landing on the lead around the three-eighths mark, Big Ranger faced nary an anxious moment through middle fractions of 55 1/5 and 1:23 3/5 before opening up on his eight rivals. Closing in 28 seconds with little movement from his driver, Big Ranger hit the wire in 1:51 3/5 nearly four lengths better than Tom Largo. Special Moni (Aaron Merriman) rounded out the top trio.

"He's cool," Tetrick told Jessica Otten as part of the America's Day at the Races broadcast on Fox Sports 2. "He's got so much athletic ability and he's so easy on himself. He's great-gaited. I just don't fall off, hit the gate or anything like that, and he takes care of the rest."

Making his first appearance since his thrilling second-place finish in the 2026 Hambletonian, Big Ranger now boasts a 13-1-0 summary from his 16 lifetime starts with $922,947 in earnings for owner Madison Global. The son of In Range-Big Blue Bird was a $25,000 Ohio Select yearling, bred by Spring Haven Farm of Utica, Ohio.

According to trainer Anette Lorentzon, Big Ranger's next start could be in stakes action at the Delaware County Fairgrounds, but that's yet to be determined.

As the 1-9 choice, the defending divisional champion paid $2.10 to win.

► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter

Seaside Shuffle didn't look like a back-to-back Ohio Sires Stakes Scarlet champion at the head of the lane in the $300,000 Ohio Sires Stakes Scarlet Championship for 3-year-old filly pacers, but driver Chris Page found room up the pylons, and the daughter of Downbytheseaside-Hula Shuffle closed with authority to pick off Vanna By The River (Aaron Merriman) in a lifetime-best 1:50 4/5 effort. Vanna By The River was a half-length back in second, with Rhodena Blue (Trevor Smith) edging out Sassy By The Sea (Tyler Smith) for the show spot.

"Last week she raced very good, so I knew we were coming into the race in good form," said Page after the victory. "Luckily I had room down the passing lane and, like I said, we prepped her for tonight. She was very good last week, won in the handholds, so it's kind of cool when a plan comes together."

A $115,000 Lexington Selected yearling bred by Billy Walters and Joe McLead of Delaware, Ohio, Seaside Shuffle is trained by Ron Burke for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Weaver Bruscemi LLC., Knox Services Inc. and R A S Racing LLC. With the victory, her seventh in 26

career starts, Seaside Shuffle now boasts a bankroll of $665,992 in earnings. As the 4-1 third choice, she paid $10 to win.

After racing in New York earlier in the day, drivers Yannick Gingras and Dexter Dunn rolled into Scioto just ahead of the evening's ninth race, the $300,000 Ohio Sires Stakes Scarlet Championship for 3-year-old filly trotters. And it took a photo to decide the winner of that race, with Mooter Tooter (Gingras) getting up in the final strides to defeat Setyoursightshigh (Dunn) in a 1:53 3/5 mile.

Chip Shot (Ronnie Wrenn) cleared to the lead after a 27 4/5 opening quarter, and then doled out middle panels of 57 seconds and 1:24 4/5 with Godusa (David Miller) pressuring first-up. Favoured Setyoursightshigh sat second-over, with Mooter Tooter third-over in the final 400 yards. Dunn angled Setyoursightshigh into the three path around the far turn, with Gingras fanning Mooter Tooter four-wide to set up a wild five-across finish. Chip Shot couldn't hold off the backfield, as Mooter Tooter and Setyoursightshigh closed aggressively and hit the wire nearly in unison. The photo revealed Mooter Tooter as the winner by a head to earn a new lifetime mark.

"A little delay with the weather, we had to go around some storms," said Gingras in reference to his later-than-planned arrival. "Thankfully, the judges and management here, they were working with us on waiting a few extra minutes to get here. It's very much appreciated.

"Early on in the race I kind of liked my spot but that second quarter, we were going so slow. I pulled right away to get the flow moving a little bit. I thought I was following two of the best fillies, but sometimes with slow fractions, somebody gets away on the lead. She came home real strong."

A $28,000 Ohio Select yearling bred by Wayne Weaver of Fredericksburg, Ohio, Mooter Tooter (Long Tom-Moots) is trained by Ron Burke for Burke Racing Stable LLC., Knox Services Inc., Beasty LLC. and R A S Racing LLC. After going winless at 2, she's now a five-time winner as a

sophomore with $281,575 in lifetime earnings. Sent off at 12-1, she paid $26.80 to win.

Tsanami Seas closed out the Ohio Sires Stakes Scarlet Championships on Saturday night with a determined effort in the $300,000 final for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings.

Starting from the rail, driver David Miller left enough to forwardly position 4-5 favorite Tsunami Seas in third as Prolific Blend (Austin Hanners) made the first call in 27 seconds. Miller moved Tsunami Seas to the outside after that opening quarter, cleared to the front before a 54 1/5 half and then kept the tempo honest through the 1:21 1/5 third station. Hanners angled Prolific Blend from the pocket in the stretch, but Tsunami Seas stormed home in 28 2/5 for the 1:49 3/5 score. Prolific Blend finished a length back in second with When Is Parade (Wrenn) at the bottom of the trifecta ticket.

"He really is versatile," Miller told Jessica Otten. "We know we put him here on the front a lot because he's the best. Tonight, he came into this race very sharp, and I wasn't too too worried about fractions or anything.

"He dug right in when Austin moved on him. I felt pretty confident down by the wire that he wasn't going to get by."

A son of Downbytheseaside-Foxy Rigger bred by Country Club Acres Inc. and L And H Management Services of Findlay, Ohio, Tsunami Seas sold for $80,000 at the 2024 Ohio Selected sale. He's now a seven-time winner with $280,707 in earnings for trainer Virgil Morgan Jr. and owners Jeffrey Rector, Larry Wills and Hutchison Harness LLC. As the favorite in the eight-horse field, Tsunami Seas paid $3.80 to win.

Two-year-old Scarlet Championships

Despite early day rain, Ohio Super Night at Eldorado Scioto Downs started off with a bang on Saturday (September 12) when the first $300,000 Ohio Sires Stakes Scarlet Championship race was won in track record time. Tight finishes and fast horses continued throughout the evening before a waterlogged but exuberant crowd.

Blue Ranger joined big brother Big Ranger on the Scioto stats sheet, winning the 2-year-old filly trot in a track record 1:53 1/5.

Aaron Merriman got Big Ranger away fifth from post five while Made For More (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) was first to the 27 2/5 opening quarter. After briefly letting Miz Ella Paige (Sam Widger) to the front, Made For More took back over to control the tempo to the 56 4/5 half. Kissme Ifyoucan (Austin Hanners) cruised down the backside and made the top just at as the field hit the 1:24 1/5 three-quarters, leaving Blue Ranger to come first-up. Coming off the turn Blue Ranger cruised towards the finish line, winning by 3 1/4 lengths over Kissme Ifyoucan; Miz Ella Paige was third. Going off as the 8-5 favorite, Blue Ranger paid $5.20 to win.

"I was really surprised actually (to pick up the drive). I haven't been following as close as I could you know, being off all summer, I'm just blessed to have some drives," said Merriman. "She was very, very good...she's very professional. She went pretty easy. Maybe it was kind of a blessing, where I missed all summer, so maybe I would have had a commitment."

Blue Ranger, by In Range and out of the Tactical Landing mare Big Blue Bird, was a $210,000 Ohio Selected Yearling Sale purchase from breeders Spring Haven Farm. Owned by Bender Sweden, the Marcus Melander trainee now has $193,500 earned in four lifetime starts. Saturday's victory was her second on the year, lowering her lifetime mark by a second and taking two-fifths of a second off the track record, set by Godusa in 2025.

2-year-old Colt Pace

Another track record performance, this time in serious rain, was a battle to the finish, with Don'ttruckwithme prevailing in 1:49 4/5 with Mike Wilder at the lines for Daren Harvey.

Luke Hanners took Night Surfer to the front from post nine and hit the quarter in 26 2/5. Jett James (Brett Miller) swiftly moved to the lead, but it was short-lived as Night Surfer was back on top before the 53 4/5 half. Don'ttruckwithme sat in the three-hole and Wilder pulled him going to the 1:21 4/5 three-quarters. Ocean Party (Tim Tetrick) came from the back second-over, and the two battled it out down the stretch. In a tight photo, it was Don'ttruckwithme who came out on top by a nose over Ocean Party; Night Surfer was third. Don'ttruckwithme, the 5-2 co-second choice, paid $7.80 to win.

Chris Lems had driven Don'ttruckwithme all season, but due to an accident Friday, Wilder picked up the drive late.

"Lems is a great friend of mine and he's done a whale of a job with this colt," said Wilder. "Daren said he's been real kind with him all year and I think he's ready to race. So, hat's off to Chris for getting this colt ready for this kind of race.

"They were dueling pretty early. I didn't really want to come first-up, but they worked real hard, and he told me the colt would be really good tonight and he was right. It was a thrill. I didn’t know if I was able to hold Timmy off. The colt did all the work, he just dug in."

An emotional Harvey was full of praise for Lems.

"Let's just say from the beginning, Chris Lems, he was it. He got the horse ready for this. So, my emotions are heavy with that. I've had a great opportunity over my years watching Mike over at The Meadows. He's an amazing horseman. He put in an incredible effort, that was tight."

Don'ttruckwithme, by Catch The Fire and out of the Real Desire mare Age Of Consent, was a $37,000 Ohio Selected Yearling Sale purchase from breeder Judy Roegner. The track record performance was Don'ttruckwithme's sixth win in eight starts and pushed the gelding's earnings to $415,960 for owners Wayne Mast, Jr., Eden Acres Farmstead and Kirk Nichols.

The previous track record of 1:50 2/5 was set in 2020 by Charlie May.

2-year-old Colt Trot

Cool Julio picked a great evening to break his maiden, winning the 2-year-old colt and gelding trot in 1:55 for trainer Jeff Smith. Roll'n In Moni (Brett Miller) took the early lead going to the 28 2/5 opening quarter, but when he became a bit steppy, Debt Free (Wrenn) took over and sent the field to the 57 2/5 half. Tyler Smith had Cool Julio sitting fifth and was out and moving by the half, but was still fourth at the three-quarter pole. Coming down the stretch, Cool Julio won by a length over Mind On My Moni (Mike Wilder); Debt Free was

third. Going off as the 5-2 third choice, Cool Julio paid $7.60 to win.

"It's a good time to break his maiden, right?" said Smith. "We knew all along this horse had plenty of speed, it was just his manners. It's not that like he's real hot or anything, he's so quick he doesn't really know how to get in gear. But tonight, I got to hang on to him and in that last turn, I was just like 'stay trotting.'

"Actually Page's horse kinda pulled up right there, and I had to check him a little bit (on the backside) and I thought 'aw, he's gonna run.' Northfield was my fault, but over and over he's gotten more mature and he's a really nice colt. It's unbelievable (to win for his parents). My dad and mom work so hard, and they deserve it more than anybody."

Cool Julio, by Cuatro De Julio and out of the Chapter Seven mare Hit The Books, was a $52,000 Ohio Selected Yearling Sale purchase from breeder Double Spring Farm. Saturday's victory was his seventh lifetime start, and the gelding now has $190,410 in earnings for owner TDTrot.

2-year-old Filly Pace

A duel down the stretch between a co-world record holder and an 18-1 shot saw Cleveland Darby and Chris Page win the 2-year-old filly pace by a length at long odds in 1:51.

Page got Cleveland Darby away fourth and pulled after the 54 2/5 half. Getting a second-over trip behind Thought I Had It (Trevor Smith), Cleveland Darby made the lead part-way through the last turn and was able to fend off track record holder Tempting Flames for the win; Jar Of Hearts (Ronnie Gillespie) got up for third. Cleveland Darby, who went off at 18-1, paid $39.80 to win.

"Trust the process...because she's been just a little bit hot," said Page. "She's maturing and that's one. Two, Ronnie's done a great job rigging this filly. He adapts through the season with changes. We've opened her all the way up; tonight we were able to take the ear hood off and put ear plugs in her. She's just maturing, everything was geared her up for tonight and it's cool when it works out.

"I knew I was going forward out of the gate; I didn't know where I was getting away. When David was behind me with the fast fractions and Trevor pulled and I was second-up, it was just a dream trip, it really was. Then it just comes down to the best filly at the light."

Cleveland Darby, by Downbytheseaside and out of the McArdle mare Loreenas Ruffian, was bred by Carl Howard and is owned by Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi, R A S Racing and Larry Karr. The win was her fifth in eight starts and she now has $306,000 in earnings.

--press releases (Scioto)--