Columbus, OH – Ready Russell and Dan Noble broke their own Eldorado Scioto Downs track record for 2-year-old trotting geldings, going a 1:54 mile Monday (Sept. 1) during Ohio Sires Stakes action.

Getting away third from post seven, Ready Russell watched as Bitcoin King (Tyler Smith) took the field through the opening half with splits of :27.3 and :56.2. Just before the half, Noble tipped Ready Russell to the outside and the pair made the front as the field got close to the 1:24.3 third quarter. Cruising down the stretch, Ready Russell won by four lengths over Eleven Bang Bang (Trevor Smith), who got up for second, with Bitcoin King finishing third.

Ready Russell dropped his own track record to 1:54 during Ohio Sires Stakes action. Conrad Photo.

Ready Russell, by Ready For Moni out of the Cantab Hall mare Fortheloveoflindy, set the 2-year-old gelding trot track record (1:54.3) on Aug. 23. Trained by Deborah Swartz for Jeff Fought Racing, Brian Carsey and David Fought, Ready Russell now has six wins in seven starts and $141,300 in earnings. Bred by Midland Acres, Ready Russell was a $37,000 Ohio Selected Yearling Sale purchase.

In the other $65,000 division for colts and geldings, Big Ranger stayed perfect in his young career, winning in 1:54.2. Ronnie Gillespie had the Next Generation winner sitting third while watching Where Theres Smoke (Sam Widger) set fractions of :27, :56.1 and 1:24.3. Tipping out down the backside and going three-wide momentarily into the last turn, Big Ranger got by in the final strides to win by a three-quarters of a length. Where Theres Smoke was second, with Rose Run Banker (Chris Page) getting up for third.

Big Ranger, by In Range out of the Tactical Landing mare Big Blue Bird, was a $25,000 Ohio Selected Yearling Sale purchase from breeder Spring Haven Farm. Owned by Madison Global, Big Ranger is trained and driven by Gillespie and the duo now have five wins in as many starts and $185,500 in earnings.

Setyoursightshigh and Dexter Dunn took the fastest $50,000 filly spit in 1:54.2. Getting away third just like the boys, Setyoursightshigh pulled going down the stretch after the :27.3 quarter. The pair made the top, putting Lucky Lady Volo (Noble) in the pocket by the :56.3 half. After the 1:25.4 third quarter, Setyoursightshigh pulled away under a hand drive to win by 7-1/2 lengths. Charlies Moni (Chris Lems) got up for second with Tom’s Babe (Jeremy Smith) finishing third.

Setyoursightshigh, by In Range out of the Cantab Hall mare Special Interest, was a $50,000 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale purchase from breeder Kentuckiana Farms. Owned by Heights Stable, Mantorp, AMG Stable and K Kjellgren Livs AB. The Next Generation winner now has six wins in seven starts and $265,000 in earnings.

The other two filly winners won gate-to-wire. Speedbewithyou and Austin Hanners took the first division in 1:55.1. Setting fractions of :27.4, :57.3 and 1:26.1, Speedbewithyou won by three-quarters of a length over Rose Run Brooke (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.), who came three-wide around the last turn; pocket-sitter Range The Wish (Aaron Merriman) was third.

A homebred for David Wills, and co-owned by Greg Luther Racing, Speedbewithyou is by Mission Accepted out of the Father Patrick mare Instinct. Trained by Todd Luther, the filly now has four wins in seven starts and $136,500 in earnings.

Demonic Niko (Noble) won the second division in 1:55. Setting fractions of :27.3, :56.2 and 1:25, Demonic Niko was able to hold off a late bid by Seven Lick Range (Tyler Smith) to win by a half-length; pocket-sitter Faster Horses (Merriman) was third.

Demonic Niko, by In Range out of the Cantab Hall mare Cant Stop Marie, was a $95,000 Ohio Selected Yearling Sale purchase from breeder Labelle Farms. Erv Miller trains the filly for Ervin Miller Stable, Anthony Lombardi and Doug Overhiser. Her sixth win in eight starts, Demonic Niko now has $205,250 in earnings.

The 90-day 2025 Eldorado Scioto Downs race meet is down to the last two weeks and runs through Saturday, Sept. 13. Racing continues this Thursday-Saturday; next week, closing week, races will be held Wednesday-Saturday. First post for all scheduled race days is 5:45 p.m. with the exception of Friday, Sept. 12. A special late first post of 6:45 p.m. will help accommodate horsemen attending the Ohio Selected Yearling Sale.

More information about racing at Scioto can be found on the Eldorado Scioto Downs website.