Big OSS weekend begins at Northfield

Grove City, OH – A total of eight divisions of two-year-old harness racing colt pacers, filly trotters, and colt trotters will compete in the first leg of Ohio Sires Stakes action Saturday, Sunday, and Monday at MGM Northfield Park.  The two divisions of freshman colt pacers carry a purse of $55,000 each while all other divisions carry $40,000 purses.

Act Fast (Downbytheseaside) will try to make it two in a row to start his career in the first division of freshman colt pacers Saturday.  Chris Page will drive him for trainer Ron Burke.  Act Fast, the 3-2 favorite, won the $150,000 Next Generation July 4^th at Eldorado Scioto Downs.  Act Fast is owned by the Burke Racing Stable, Knox Services, Rich Lombardo Racing, and Beasty LLC.

Next Generation second place finisher Rockmelikeyameanit (McArdle) is the second choice at 5-2.  Dan Noble will drive the gelding for trainer Christi Noble.  Rockmelikeyameanit is owned by Dennis Owens, Norman Rae Racing, and James Morris.

In the second division, Surfside Beach (Downbytheseaside) gets the early nod as the favorite at 5-2.  Ronnie Wrenn Jr. will drive for trainer Brian Brown.  The gelding is owned by Lombardo Racing & In The Gym, Acadia Farms, VIP Internet Stables, and Joe Sbrocco.

Ten of the 17 freshman pacers are sired by Downbytheseaside.

Sunday night, three divisions of freshman filly trotters highlight the Northfield Park 15-race card.  A total of 26 freshman filly are scheduled to take the track

In the first division, Aaron Merriman will drive the 8-5 favorite, Cali Red (Triumphant Caviar), for trainer Chris Beaver.  Cali Red finished second in her only start of the year, the Next Generation.  The filly is owned by Beaver and Sandra Burnett.

The second choice is Smokinhotirishgirl (Uncle Peter) owned by The Stable.ca and Hutchison Harness at 5-2.  Anthony MacDonald drives the filly for trainer Jason McGinnis.

A wide-open field of nine will go behind the gate for the second division.  First time starters are the top two choices, Along In Time (Long Tom) is the favorite at 5-2, while Rose Run Yolanda (Triumphant Caviar) is the second choice at 4-1.

Don Irvine Jr. will handle the lines for Along In Time.  Garry Martin trains and co-owns the filly with B. Kleinberg Racing.

Black Magic Racing’s Rose Run Yolanda is trained by Todd Luther and will be driven by Trevor Smith.

In the third division, Next Generation winner Swinging Senorita (What The Hill) is the 8-5 favorite.  Jason McGinnis trains, and Anthony MacDonald drives for the Thestable.ca and Hutchison Harness.  Swinging Senorita has won two of three starts and has earned $80,750 this year.

Second choice Truly Relentless (Long Tom) has finished second in both of her starts including the Next Generation.  Chris Lems drives for trainer Steve Cross.  The filly is owned by Richard Gutnick, Thomas Pontone, and Joseph Lozito.

Three divisions of 25 colt trotters will highlight Monday night’s card at Northfield Park.

In the first division, five first time starters will go behind the gate.  The other three have one start under their belt with 2-1 favorite John Dutton (What The Hill) the only one to hit the board, a second-place finish.  Ron Burke trains and Chris Page drives. John Dutton is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Knox Services, Johnny Yoder, and RAS Racing.

In the second division, Kayne Kaufman will drive the 5-2 favorite Rumble Strips (Long Tom) for trainer Mike Polhamus.  The colt was third in his only start.  Constance Polhamus and Mary Beth Walters own Rumble Strips.

Second choice Covid Cartel (Enterprise) is the only winner of the nine trotters.  He is trained by John Wengerd and driven by Greg Grismore.  Covid Cartel is owned by Norstar Stable.

Black Magic (Full Count) will look for his fourth win in as many starts for trainer Steve Cross.  Black Magic has earned $82,750 in his three wins.  Richard Gutnick, Thomas Pontone, and Joseph Lozito own the colt.

Allen Miller owns and trains the second choice, Stumpy (What The Hill).  Ryan Stahl will drive the gelding.

Post time for all three days of racing is 6:00 PM.

For complete Saturday race entries, click here.

For complete Sunday race entries, click here.

For complete Monday race entries, click here.

by Frank Fraas, for the OHHA