$100,000 Ohio Sire Stakes Saturday

Two $50,000 divisions of Ohio Sires Stakes (OSS) for 3-year-old filly trotters are set to be contested Saturday night, June 26 at Scioto Downs. A total of 12 diagonally gaited sophomores will vie in races two and seven with a first race post time of 6:15 pm, ET.  This is the second leg of the four-round series for state-bred youngsters.

Heading up the first division is leg one winner Celebrate With Me, who hails from the powerful Ron Burke Stable.  This coal black filly by Full Count, out of the Andover Hall mare Glisten Hanover, stormed to a 1:54.2 clocking in that first leg at Miami Valley on May 2.  Bred by Marvin Raber of Baltic, Ohio, Celebrate With Me has $212,757 in her coffers from five wins, five seconds, and a trio of thirds in 13 career starts for Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi and Knox Services.  She was second in last year’s $300,000 OSS Championship, earning $159,972 as a 2-year-old.

Celebrate With Me is the second of four foals out of her dam, Glisten Hanover 3, 1:57.3f ($28,868).  She faces five rivals, including Herculisa, who finished fourth to her in that first OSS leg. Irish Princess, who captured a leg of the Buckeye Stallion Series on May 1 at Miami Valley, along with Bank My Way, Rose Run Whitney and Designer Specs will all be making their first start in OSS competition in this same event.

In the second division, Merry Ann, who captured last season’s $300,000 OSS Championship for trainer Ron Burke and driver Chris Page, returns to make amends after making breaks in OSS leg one at Miami Valley on May 2.  Owned by Burke Racing, Knox Services and Weaver Bruscemi, this bay daughter by Southwind Spirit, out of the SJ’s Photo mare Witty Girl, will be making just her third start this season for these same connections. This homebred’s bankroll sits at $246,200 from five wins and two seconds in ten career outings.

Merry Ann will face off against Katie’s Lucky Day, a daughter of Uncle Peter, who has three consecutive victories to her credit coming into this stake. Trained by Todd Luther for Black Magic Racing, Katie’s Lucky Day was second to Celebrate With Me in the OSS opener on May 2 at Miami Valley and has $124,969 in career earnings. Also competing are Ozma, who was third in leg one, as well as Swizzle Hanover and Ciao Baby Hall who both made breaks in that same contest. A Doll Face will be making her first foray into OSS competition this season, in here.

by Kim Rinker, for the Ohio Standardbred Development Fund