Grove City, OH – When the bright lights of the Ohio Sires Stakes are shining, Racing Rampage (Racing Hill) is at his best. The freshman harness racing colt pacer made it two-in-row in OSS action Saturday night (July 30) at MGM Northfield Park, winning the second of two $55,000 divisions.
At the start, Jason Thompson took Burnout to the lead covering the first quarter in :26.3 and the half in :55.1.
Aaron Merriman sat third with the 4-5 favorite Raging Rampage before making his move just past the half-mile mark. Merriman pulled the gelding and charged up the back stretch pulling even with the leader entering the final turn.
As the two turned for home, Racing Rampage grabbed the lead and drew away to win by three-lengths in a new lifetime mark of 1:51.2. Darren Dowler trains and co-owns Raging Rampage with Lawrence Bettler.
Racing Rampage has won two of three starts this year and has earned $56,440.
Burnout held on for second, while The Real Way finished third.
RACING RAMPAGE REPLAY
In the other division, Rockmelikeyameanit (McArdle) was an easy winner. Billy Davis Jr. raced him to the front and never looked back winning by two lengths in 1:52.3. Rockmelikeyameanit cut fractions of :27.3, :56.2, and 1:24 on the way to the victory for trainer Christi Noble.
Boardwalk Jack finished second with Dragon Attack third.
The win was Rockmelikeyameanit’s first of the year in three starts and raised his earnings to $78,750. Rockmelikeyameanit is owned by Dennis Owens, Norman Rae Racing, and James Morris.
ROCKMELIKEYAMEANIT REPLAY
Ohio Sires Stakes action resumes August 13 at MGM Northfield Park with the third leg for sophomore colt trotters.
For complete race results, click here.
by Frank Fraas, for the OHHA