Trotters on fire in Ohio Sires Stakes

Eight trotting divisions of the harness racing Ohio Sires Stakes were contested Saturday night, July 17 at Northfield Park. Seven $40,000 divisions were for 2-year-old trotters—four for fillies and three for colts—while one $60,000 was held for 3-year-old trotting distaffs.

FRESHMAN TROTTING COLTS

Caviar Gold notched the first division for trotting colts as the 3-1 choice for driver Aaron Merriman, who gave the son of Triumphant Caviar a perfect come-from-behind steer to pick up his second lifetime victory in as many tries for trainer Chris Beaver. This homebred, who is owned by Beaver, Manes, Fleming and Zeehandelar is now a two-time winner in OSS competition, having captured Leg 1 on July 9 at Scioto Downs in 1:58.3. Guido Di used a perfect two-hole trip to finish second for Brady Brown at 4-1 odds, while 7-5 No Edge Lines was third for driver Kayne Kauffman. Caviar Gold is the third foal out of the Holiday Road mare Gee O’Keeffe 3, 1:55.2h ($90,487) and is a half-brother to the Uncle Peter gelding My Pal Spark 3, 1:59f ($14,957).

CAVIAR GOLD REPLAY

Slim Jimmy got a perfect steer by driver Anthony MacDonald to capture the second OSS test for freshman trotting colts, striding perfectly to the wire to score in a career best 1:56.1. Trained by Jason McGinnis for Thestable Slim Jimmy and Hutchison Harness, the son of Long Tom picked up his first lifetime win as the 3-2 favorite.  Body Armor, a 25-1 longshot, was second for Kayne Kauffman with 35-1 Count The Coin third for Danny Noble. Bred by Midland Acres, Slim Jimmy is the fourth foal out of the Broadway Hall mare Swinging Nadine 2, 1:57.1f ($36,273), with a half-sister in The Nun (by Father Patrick) 2, 1:58.1f ($9,777).

SLIM JIMMY REPLAY

When Gabbys Bit Coin captured the third OSS test for freshmen trotting colts with Ronnie Wrenn, Jr., at the lines, it gave trainer Chris Beaver his fourth win of the night in OSS competition. The son of Uncle Peter is owned by Johanna and Chris Beaver, and grabbed his second straight lifetime win for these connections, as he captured Leg 1 of this series one week ago. Rose Run Xtra, the 10-1 choice, was second for Chris Page, with 35-1 Loadedwithcreatine third with Chris Lems at the controls. Gabby’s Bit Coin is the first foal out of the Triumphant Caviar mare Gabbysloosechange 3, 1:54.4h ($186,585).

GABBYS BIT COIN REPLAY

FRESHMEN TROTTING FILLIES

Blaze Of Justice took advantage of numerous breakers to grab her first career victory in the first OSS contest for 2-year-old trotting fillies in 2:00.3.  Reined by Tyler Smith, the daughter of Long Tom left the gate at 8-1, besting 7-1 Lovely Liv (Chris Lems) and 8-1 Moola Making Connie (Kurt Sugg). Herman Hagerman trains Blaze Of Justice, who was bred by Midland Acres, Larry Katz, and M. Rubin, for the Top Shelf Stable of Brewster, Ohio. This filly is the fifth foal out of the Justice Hall mare Truth And Justice and is a half-sister to the mare Jane Eyre (by Groton Hall) 3, 1:55.1 ($173,430) and to the gelding Hope For Justice (by Windsong Espoir) 2, 1:57.2s ($28,526).

BLAZE OF JUSTICE REPLAY

Be My Baby Now picked up her first OSS triumph by scoring in 1:58.2 for driver Chris Page in the second filly division. Trained by Ron Burke for Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi, Knox Services and Hatfield Stables, this daughter by What The Hill upped her career earnings to $105,000 with her second lifetime triumph as the 6-5 favorite.  Kirsi Dream was second at 9-2 for Mike Wilder, while 18-1 Oftom was third with Anthony MacDonald in the sulky. Be My Baby Now is the 11^th foal out of the Raffaello Ambrosio mare Baby Bella, making her a half-sister to: Buen Camino (by Cash Hall) 5, 1:52f ($782,951); Victor’s Future (by Valley Victor) 3, 1:54.4 ($448,347); and Trix And Stones (by Trixton) 5, 1:54.2 ($260,490), among others.

BE MY BABY NOW REPLAY

The third 2-year-old OSS filly division literally became a match race as five of the seven distaffs broke, leaving 3-2 Moments Created (Kurt Sugg) and 1-1 Stephanie Hill (Aaron Merriman) to slug it out, with the later prevailing over the former by a whisker at the wire in 1:58. Trained by Chris Beaver, the daughter of What The Hill is co-owned by Moger-Delia Racing, and grabbed her second lifetime victory in as many tries.  Lady Camryn, a 35-1 longshot, was third for Danny Noble. Bred by the Double Spring Farm of Ohio, Stephanie Hill is the ninth of ten foals out of the Ilooklikemymom mare I Like Stephanie 3, 1:56f ($205,610). She is a half-sister to Cold Certified (by Kadabra) 5, 1:54.1s ($464,237).

STEPHANIE HILL REPLAY

Caviar Roxie Due, the 1-1 favorite, demolished her rivals with a 1:59.2 clocking in the fourth and final OSS filly division. The daughter of Triumphant Caviar got a steady drive by Aaron Merriman for trainer Chris Beaver to notch her second lifetime triumph in as many starts.  Bred by Dublin Valley Farm, Caviar Roxie Due is owned by Beaver, Zeehandelar, Homan and Vip Internet Stable. Purple Aura finished a well-fought second for Anthony MacDonald, with 40-1 longshot Pinky Promise finishing third for Danny Noble. Caviar Roxie Due is the second foal out of the Kadabra mare Rose Run Roxann ($4,182).

CAVIAR ROXIE DUE REPLAY

SOPHOMORE TROTTING FILLIES

Herculisa picked up her second straight victory in Ohio Sires Stakes competition, winning the lone $60,000 third-leg division in 1:54.1 with Danny Noble reining the daughter of My MVP.

Owned by the Jesmeral Stable of Scarsdale, NY, Herculisa had won Leg 2 of this series at Scioto Downs in 1:52 after finishing fourth in Leg 1 at Miami Valley in early May. After leaving the gate at 7-5 odds, Herculisa zoomed by 1-1 Celebrate With Me (Chris Page) in late stretch, followed by Katie’s Lucky Day (Trevor Smith).  Bred by Joe McLead, Billy Walters and Up Front Racing, Herculisa is the third and most successful foal out of the Andover Hall mare Herculotte Hanover 3, 1:55.3 ($16,869) and is a full sister to MVP L 4, 1:58.2f ($41,983).

HERCULISA REPLAY

For full race results, click here.

by Kimberly Rinker, for the Ohio Standardbred Development Fund