Scioto: Rookie pacers duel in Ohio Sires Stakes divisions

Two-year-old pacers of both sexes hit the track on Friday at Scioto Downs in four $55,000 Ohio Sires Stakes divisions.

Racing Rampage (Aaron Merriman) led through panels of 26 2/5, 56 3/5, and 1:24 1/5 in winning the first grouping for colts and geldings by three-quarters of a length in 1:51 3/5. Downrightdelicious (Matt Kakaley) was second and Rockmelikeyameanit (Dan Noble) was placed from fourth to third after being interfered with by Boardwalk Jack (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) in the lane.

A gelded son of Racing Hill-Sebring Blue Chip bred by Rose Run Farm, Racing Rampage is owned by trainer Darren Dowler in partnership with Lawrence Bettler. Racing Rampage, a $10,500 purchase at the Buckeye Yearling Sale, has won four of his five starts, has now earned $117,940, and paid $3.00 to win as the 1-2 favorite.

In the other test for colts and geldings, Burnout (Trevor Smith) went to the point from post six and chopped out a 27 1/5 opening quarter and a 55 4/5 half, but would be challenged by pocket-sitter Street Fightin Man (Noble) past the latter marker. Burnout managed to fend off Street Fightin Man to the 1:23 2/5 three-quarters and through the last turn, but Chris Page sent The Real Way three-wide from second-over on the bend and went by Burnout turning for home. From there, it was all The Real Way as he drew off to win by four lengths over Burnout in 1:51 2/5. Wicked Character (David Miller) took third.

The Real Way, a Downbytheseaside-Real Diva colt, is trained by Ron Burke for co-owners/breeders Burke Racing Stable LLC., Weaver Bruscemi LLC., and Knox Services Inc. and co-owner Let It Ride Stables Inc. The Real Way has a record of 4-0-1 from five tries thus far, pushed his bankroll to $101,600, and returned $3.20 to win after being sent off as the 3-5 choice.

The initial flight for the fillies saw Fear Of Sports (Tyler Smith) reach the quarter in 27 1/5, but she would yield to My Red Sea (Kayne Kauffman) after that station. My Red Sea got to the half in 55 3/5 and the three-quarters in 1:24 4/5, but Smith was already out and on the move with Fear Of Sports as they raced in the backstretch for the final time, and Fear Of Sports went by My Red Sea on the far turn. Fear Of Sports didn't face another challenge after that as she pulled clear to prevail by 3 1/2 lengths over My Red Sea in 1:52 2/5. Honey Buzz (Brett Miller) collected third.

A daughter of Fear The Dragon-Sportin The Gold, Fear Of Sports is trained by Kelly O'Donnell for owner/breeder Emerald Highlands Farm. She has four wins and two seconds in six trips behind the gate, has now put away $101,625, and paid $2.20 to win as the 1-9 favorite.

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4-5 choice Cruise Alert (Dexter Dunn) was on the engine at the 26 3/5 quarter in the second section for the fillies, but Calgary (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) drove on two-wide from post eight and hit the front in the second quarter. When Calgary cleared, that left Kassagi (Tyler Smith) first-over, and she would move up to put pressure on Calgary after the 54 3/5 half. Calgary would succumb to Kassagi's bid nearing the 1:23 4/5 three-quarters, with Lofty Treasure (Tony Hall) three-wide from second-over and McSeaside (Chris Page) tracking Lofty Treasure before going widest on the last turn.

McSeaside would kick past all the leaders on the final bend once Page guided her to the far outside, and with Cruise Alert mired in traffic, McSeaside coasted home to a 6 1/4 length victory in 1:52 1/5. Cruise Alert did get out and end up second, with No Fear Intended (Brett Miller) rallying from sixth to third.

Burke also trains McSeaside, a Downbytheseaside-McGibson filly bred by Andray Farm and Sergent Stables LLC., for owners Burke Racing Stable LLc., Beasty LLC., J&T Silva Stables LLC., and Knox Services Inc. McSeaside, who was purchased for $67,000 at the 2021 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, broke her maiden in her fourth chance, has now pocketed $47,625, and returned $19.60 to win as an 8-1 shot.