Scioto: Rookie trotters compete in Ohio State Fair stakes

The Ohio Triple Crown season commenced on Thursday at Eldorado Scioto Downs with Ohio State Fair races for 2-year-old trotters of both sexes.

Ronnie Gillespie scored his 1,000th victory in the bike when his trainee Big Ranger captured a $56,000 tilt for colts and geldings in 1:56. The winner of the Next Generation at Scioto earlier this year, Big Ranger took the lead passing the 27 4/5 quarter and went on to a 1 1/2 length triumph for owner Madison Global. Big Ranger, an In Range colt, was bred by Spring Haven Farm, is three-for-three thus far in his career, has pocketed $128,000 and paid $2.10 to win.

Driver Dan Noble took three of the other splits, prevailing with In Range filly Demonic Niko (bred by Labelle Farms, paid $2.20 to win) in 1:57 1/5 for co-owner/trainer Erv Miller and co-owners Anthony Lombardi and Douglas Overhiser, Long Tom gelding Tom Largo (bred by Midland Acres, paid $3.60 to win) in 1:57 1/5 for trainer Scott Cox and owners Jughead Stables and G. Peters and Ready For Moni filly Godusa (bred by Carter Duer, paid $2.60 to win) in 1:56 for trainer Nancy Takter and owners E Five Racing and John Fielding.

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Taking the remaining two Ohio State Fair contests were Uncle Peter gelding Uncle Danny (bred by Albert Miller, paid $109.80 to win) in 1:56 4/5 for driver Anthony MacDonald, trainer Jason McGinnis and owners Thestable Uncle Danny and Hutchison Harness LLC. and Mission Accpeted filly Speedbewithyou (bred by co-owner David Wills, paid $4.20 to win) in 1:57 for driver Austin Hanners, trainer Todd Luther and co-owner Greg Luther Racing LLC.).