Two Ohio freshman divisional winners will start the defense of their titles in the opening leg of the Ohio Sires Stakes on Saturday, May 4 at Miami Valley Raceway.
Seaside Diva, Ohio's 2023 Two-Year-Old Filly Pacer of the Year, has won her first two starts this year while Clever Cody (pictured above), Ohio's 2023 Two-Year-Old Colt Pacer of the Year, will make his sophomore debut.
There will be a single $100,000 USD division for the filly pacers, filly trotters and colt trotters, and two $65,000 USD divisions for the colt pacers.
Seaside Diva will have nine rivals in the filly pace as she looks to remain undefeated this year. Trained by Ron Burke, the daughter of Downbytheseaside won the James Hackett Memorial last month. The 3-1 favourite drew the rail and will have Chris Page in the bike.
The 4-1 second choice, No Foolin April, will be in the two-hole with Brett Miller. No Foolin April has won two of her five starts this year. Adam Short trains the Nob Hill High filly.
Bath Bomb is 5-1 on the morning line. The daughter of Lather Up has won both of her starts this year for trainer Per Engblom. Tyler Smith will pilot Bath Bomb.
Eight two-old-filly trotters will go behind the gate with Jurassic Hattie as the early 2-1 favourite. The daughter of Volstead won the James K. Memorial in April at Miami Valley. She is trained by Eric Nesselroad and Miller will drive.
She will be challenged by Iam Independent and Legacy Affair.
Ron Burke trains and Page drives Iam Independent. The Triumphant Caviar filly has two third-place finishes in her two starts this year. She is the second choice at 5-2.
Legacy Affair has made three starts in 2024 and has finished second in all three. Trace Tetrick will drive the Duke Sugg trainee. Legacy Affair is 4-1 on the morning line.
The colt trot is expected to be a wide-open affair without Tennessee Tom. The winner of the James Hackett Memorial is not entered in the first OHSS leg.
Royal Precedent, the runner-up to Tennessee Tom in both the Hackett elimination and final, is the early favourite at 2-1. Jodi Schillaci trains the son of Creatine and Tetrick will drive.
Four horses are tied for second choice at 5-1: Smooth Talkin, Rose Run Zoom, E Pass and Spaaaanzano
Smooth Talkin and Rose Run Zoom are trained by Rosy Weaver. Tyler Smith will drive Smooth Talkin in his first race of the season while Ronnie Wrenn Jr. will drive Rose Run Zoom, who finished second in his only start of the year.
Chris Beaver trains E Pass and Spaaaanzano. Trevor Smith will be in the bike behind E Pass, who has one win in three starts this year. Aaron Merriman gets the call on Spaaaanzano, who will be making his first start of the year.
In the first division for colt pacers, Clever Cody is the 9-5 morning line favourite. Aaron Merriman will drive the son of The Panderosa for Dr. Ian Moore. Clever Cody won six of eight races last year.
Jannelle Granny is the 2-1 second choice. The Betty Clegg trainee has hit the board in all three starts this year winning two. Miller will drive the Fear The Dragon colt.
Page will drive the 5-1 third choice, Downbythedanceclub, for Burke. The Downbytheseaside gelding has hit the board twice in three seasonal starts, winning once.
Rose Run Zane, the winner of four of six starts this year, is the 2-1 favourite in the second division for colt pacers. Dan Venier trains the Racing Hill gelding and Austin Hanners gets the drive.
Jeremy Smith will drive the 3-1 second choice Fear The Image. Randy Smith trains the son of Fear The Dragon. Fear The Image has a third-place finish in two starts this year.
The third choice is also a son of Fear The Dragon. Paris Dragon is 4-1 on the morning line. Dan Noble will drive for his wife Christi.
The first race post time for the 14-race card is noon.
(With files from Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association)