Scioto: Track record for Big Ranger headlines Next Generation results

First-crop sire In Range got off to an impressive start in Ohio as his offspring Big Ranger and Setyoursightshigh won the $150,000 The Next Generation races for 2-year-old trotters on Saturday night at Eldorado Scioto Downs. I'llbetyourboots, also by a first-crop sire in Summa Cum Laude, was victorious in the companion dash for rookie colt and gelding pacers.

Big Ranger (Ronnie Gillespie) won The Next Generation for trotting colts and geldings in a track record 1:54. Starting from post one, he went right to the lead, put up fractions of 27, 57 1/5 and 1:25 2/5 and defeated Max The Mighty (Aaron Merriman) by 3 1/4 lengths. Rose Run Banker (Chris Page) was third.

Bred by Spring Haven Farm, Big Ranger was making his first career start off a baby race win at Scioto in 1:57 2/5 on June 16. Madison Global owns and Gillespie trains Big Ranger, who paid $15.20 to win.

Godusa (Dave Palone) was in front at the 28 3/5 quarter and 59 1/5 half in The Next Generation for trotting fillies but broke before the 1:28 1/5 three-quarters, putting first-over Range The Wish (Merriman) on the lead and Setyoursightshigh (Mike Wilder), who had been tracking cover, in the first-up position. Despite losing the helmet, Setyoursightshigh forged her way by Range The Wish in the stretch and prevailed by a length over Demonic Niko (Atlee Bender) in 1:56 3/5. Speedbewithyou (Austin Hanners) collected third.

Marcus Melander sent out Setyoursightshigh, a Kentuckiana Farms-bred, for owners Heights Stable, Mantorp LLC., Amg Stable Inc. and K Kjellgren Livs Ab Inc. She won in her second try after she was second in the opening leg of the Kentucky Sire Stakes at Oak Grove on June 23, has now pocketed $85,000 and returned $11 to win.

In The Next Generation for pacing colts and geldings, I'llbetyourboots (Chris Page) cut the quarter in 27 3/5 and then yielded to Crocodile Station (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) past that marker. Crocodile Station continued on the point to the half in 55 4/5 and the three-quarters in 1:24 4/5, but I'llbetyourboots rallied in the passing lane to get command again in the stretch, then held off a surging Swelce (Mike Wilder) by a neck in 1:52. Sparks N Fire (Hanners) was up for third.

I'llbetyourboots was making his first start for trainer Ron Burke and owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Weaver Bruscemi LLC., Knox Services Inc. and Larry Karr. He has a summary of 2-0-1 from three appearances thus far, has banked $79,960 and paid $3.20 to win.

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Three-year-olds were also in action on the program in eight $65,000 Ohio Sires Stakes clashes.

Page and Burke swept the colt and gelding paces, winning with Swingtown (by Downbytheseaside, bred by Steiner Stock Farm and owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC., Hatfield Stables, Knox Services Inc. and R A S Racing LLC.) in 1:49 4/5 over stablemates Harrisburg Heist (Wrenn Jr.) and Fear The Hate (Dan Noble) and Rick Wink (by Bit Of A Legend N, bred by Larry Miller and owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC., R A S Racing LLC., Knox Services Inc. and J&T Silva- Purnel & Libby) in 1:49 2/5 over stablemate Sippinonsearoc (Wrenn Jr.).

In the other Ohio Sires Stakes battles, driver Dan Noble had a hat trick, while Brett Miller, along with trainer Virgil Morgan Jr., had doubles.

Noble took a filly trot with In The End (by Lionhunter and bred by owner/trainer Anette Lorentzon) in 1:53 4/5 and swept the filly paces with Morgan Jr.-trained Odds On Chesapeake (by Downbytheseaside, bred by Odds On Nourrir and owned by Odds On Racing and Operation Horsepower) in 1:50 4/5 and James Ehrsam-trained Rose Run Aimee (by Racing Hill, bred by Rose Run Farm and owned by Dr. Jill Dentel, William Rufenacht, Gene Roth and Jeffrey Bankey) in 1:49 4/5, which tied her own track record.

Miller connected in both colt and gelding trots, first with Lt Loverboy (by Long Tom, bred by Midland Acres and owned by Wayne Mast Jr and Callam Racing LLC.) in 1:52 1/5 for trainer Daren Harvey and then with Morgan Jr. trainee Jet Wings (by What The Hill, bred by Martz Creek Farm and owned by Joycea McClelland Stb LLC.) in 1:54.

Rounding out the Ohio Sires Stakes victors on the card was 3-year-old trotting filly Mega Money, as the James Bender-bred daughter of Triumphant Caviar scored in 1:53 3/5 for driver Aaron Merriman, co-owner/trainer Chris Beaver and co-owners Patricia Stable, L.A. Express Stable LLC. and Sjoblom Racing Inc.