Ohio Sires Stakes action this weekend

Grove City, OH – Ohio harness racing freshman pacers and filly trotters will open Ohio Sires Stakes action at Eldorado Scioto Downs and MGM Northfield Park on Saturday and Sunday night (July 13 and 14).  Scioto Downs will host two $65,000 divisions of filly pacers and three $50,000 divisions of colt pacers while Northfield Park will host four divisions of filly trotters.

The Word Is Out (Well Said) will headline the filly pacers.  The filly is coming off a win last Saturday night in the $150,000 Next Generation.  Ron Burke trains The Word Is Out.  Chris Page will drive the even-money favorite in the second division.

In the first division, Virgil Morgan Jr. will send Odds On Hialeah (Lather Up) to the gate as the 2-1 favorite.  Brett Miller drove the filly in her first win and will drive again Saturday night.

Next Generation winner Swingtown (Downbytheseaside) will look for back-to-back wins in the third division of colt pacers.  The 9-5 favorite drew the far outside in the eight-horse field.  Page will drive the colt for Burke.  Whatchagonnado, the other winner in the field is the second choice at 3-1.  Aaron Merriman will drive for trainer Ron Potter.

The first division will be hotly contested as three of the nine entries have wins.  Fabio Hanover (Downbytheseaside) is the 5-2 favorite.  He is coming off a win at Pocono Downs.  Ronnie Wrenn Jr. will drive Fabio Hanover for Brian Brown.  The other two winners in the field are Sippinonsearoc and Portugal The Man.

Wrenn and Brown will team up in the second division with 3-1 favorite Pants On Fire (Catch The Fire).  The colt won his first start at The Meadows.  The other winner in the field is Rick Wink.  Page will drive the 7-2 second choice for Burke.

The third division of filly trotters at MGM Northfield Park on Sunday night will be hotly contested.  Five of the seven starters have already made a trip to the winner’s circle including Next Generation winner Aunt Lilly (Uncle Peter). The filly is the 7-5 favorite.  Anthony MacDonald will drive for trainer Jason McGinnis.

In the first division, Chrome Trim is the 9-5 favorite.  Elliott Deaton will drive the son of Long Tom for Isiah Shrake.  Five of the seven entered have made one start with Chrome Trim the only filly to hit the board with a third-place finish.

Oh No Hill will look for her second win in as many starts in the second division.  Oh No Hill was a winner at the Marion County Fair.  MacDonald will drive the 4-1 morning line third choice for McGinnis. Rose Run Allison is the top choice at 2-1, followed by Mia Sangria at 5-2.

MacDonald and McGinnis will send the favorite to the gate in the fourth division.  Freedom Hill has hit the board in both starts this year, winning one.  She is the 3-1 favorite.

The first race post time at MGM Northfield Park on Sunday is 6 PM.

The filly pacers will wrap up the first leg action for two-year-olds Monday night, July 14, at Northfield Park.

by Frank Fraas, for the OHHA