Ohio Sires Stakes sees new faces emerge

Grove City, Ohio –The fourth leg of the Ohio Sires Stakes for sophomore harness racing colt pacers was anyone’s to take on Saturday night (Aug. 24) at MGM Northfield Park. Both $65,000 divisions went down to the final strides. Outer Banks and Paris’s Dragon scored OSS victories for the first time this year.

Outer Banks (Downbytheseaside) and Ronnie Wrenn Jr. took the first division in 1:52. The gelding left alertly from the rail and easily took control of the field. At 1-9, Outer Banks set fractions in :27.3 and :56.4 before being overtaken. Heading to the 1:24.1 three-quarters pole, Hundred Dollar Man (Montrell Teague) popped the pocket and easily cleared the front. Refusing to give up, Outer Banks battled back through the passing lane and won by a head.

Hundred Dollar Man held on for second with Racing Rebel (Austin Hanners) third.

Ron Burke conditions Outer Banks. He has hit the board nine of 13 seasonal starts, bankrolling $99,503 for Burke Racing Stable, R A S Racing, J&T Silva – Purnel & Libby, and Weaver Bruscemi.

OUTER BANKS REPLAY

Paris’s Dragon (Fear The Dragon) won the second division in 1:51.4. Teague gave the gelding the perfect pocket trip. Paris’s Dragon sat behind the 6-5 favorite Rose Run Zane (Hanners) as they opened fractions in :27.1 and :56.4. Rose Run Zane then made an uncharacteristic break on the backside. From first-up Clever Cody (Aaron Merriman) took the lead at the 1:24. three-quarters marker. Paris’s Dragon answered the call as Teague urged him from the pocket at the top of the stretch. Paris’s Dragon dug in to win by a neck.

Clever Cody finished second while Rose Run Zane was third.

Paris’s Dragon has won half of his fourteen seasonal starts.  Christi Noble trains for owner-breeder Dennis Owens and Norman Rae Racing. He has amassed $263,767 in lifetime earnings.

PARIS’S DRAGON REPLAY

Ohio Sires Stakes action continues Friday (Aug. 30) at Eldorado Scioto Downs with the Aged Veteran Championships. First race post time is 5:45 PM.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting Results

by Ashley Dailey, for the OHHA