Scioto: Western Ready, Gulf Shores deliver in Ohio Sires Stakes

Three-year-old colt and gelding pacers were in action in a couple of $55,000 Ohio Sires Stakes divisions on Saturday afternoon at Scioto Downs.

In the first split Western Ready (Aaron Merriman) moved to the lead past the 26 4/5 opening quarter and then got separation on the rest of the field after he blitzed through a 54 3/5 half and a 1:21 4/5 three-quarters. Dragononthebeach (Tyler Smith) made up some ground in the lane after going four-wide from third-over on the last turn, but Western Ready had the jump on him and remained clear to prevail by 2 3/4 lengths in 1:51 1/5. Buckeye Seaside (Tony Hall), who led early before yielding to Western Ready, wound up third.

Western Ready, a Western Vintage gelding bred by Mahlon Miller, is trained by Scott Ferguson for owner Toops Stable. Western Ready is now a ten-time winner from 17 lifetime starts, has pocketed $151,883, and paid $5.80 to win as the 9-5 second choice.

► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter

Gulf Shores (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) didn't disappoint in the other flight, winning in 1:50 3/5 at odds of 1-5. Gulf Shores went to the point from post one, chopped out fractions of 26 4/5, 56 1/5, and 1:22 4/5, and came home in 27 4/5 to down Seaside Way (Chris Page) by a length and a quarter. Sling Shock (Dan Noble) finished third.

Brian Brown trains Gulf Shores, a colt by Downbytheseaside bred by Joe Sbrocco, Joe McLead, and Billy Walters, for owners Country Club Acres Inc., Diamond Creek Racing, and Wingfield Brothers LLC. He has compiled a record of 9-4-2 from 16 career appearances, pushed his bankroll to $638,335, and returned $2.40 to win.