Three $40,000 divisions of Ohio Sires Stakes went postward on a steamy Tuesday at Scioto Downs, with temperatures dropping from the low 90s to the low 70s after a harsh, mid-afternoon torrential downpour.
That, coupled with a gait-breaking-ridden third division contested after the rainfall, didn’t stop even-money favourite Its Academic and driver Chris Page from tying the track record for two-year-old trotting colts in 1:56.3.
The Uncle Peter colt, who is the first foal out of the Muscle Hill mare Annapolis 3, 1:55 ($49,549), trotted decisively to a 1-1/4 length triumph after sitting chilly on the heels of eventual second-place finisher Action Uncle (Brett Miller) throughout the mile. Doubleyellowline (Dan Noble) was third.
The victory was the fifth in six starts for Its Academic—who has swept all four OSS legs for trainer Ronnie Burke—sitting the colt atop the OSS standings with 204 points and $80,000 in OSS earnings, and firmly securing him a starting berth in the $300,000 Championship slated for Sept. 1 at Northfield Park.
A $50,000 purchase at the 2018 Ohio Select Sale, Its Academic’s career earnings stand at $83,400 for Burke Racing Stable, Bill Donovan, Joe Sbrocco and the Hatfield Stables. He was bred by GBW Breeding Farms Inc of Ohio.
Prior to the downpour, a pair of appropriately-named trotting youngsters battled through the stretch in the second OSS contest, with Carter Duer’s Buxton (5-1) and driver Danny Noble holding off 9-1 Holton (Brett Miller) by a 1-1/4 lengths in 1:57.1. It was the first start in OSS competition for the Bob Stewart trainee and his first lifetime victory in four starts. Herecomescharlie B, the 1-5 choice, was third for Ryan Stahl.
Bred by Peninsula Farm, Buxton brought a $15,000 tag at the 2018 Ohio Select Sale, and this maiden win in his first start over an Ohio oval upped his career earnings to $22,085. He is the fourth foal out of the Andover Hall mare Love U Overandover 4, 1:55.2s ($152,960) and is a half-brother to Love Crazy Love (by Crazed) 2, Q1:57.1s ($90,808).
Finally, the first OSS division saw the diminutive but mighty Exhibit Class and driver Ronnie Wrenn, Jr., take a new lifetime mark of 1:57 en route to their third OSS triumph. The son of Triumphant Caviar has won three OSS legs and was second in another, sitting him second in the standings with 179 points and $70,000 in OSS earnings, securing his eligibility for the $300,000 Championship.
Exhibit Class left the gate at 3-1, besting 3-1 Jarmbalou (Brett Miller) by half a length in a near wire-to-wire effort, with 6-1 Expect The Sweep (Aaron Merriman) holding on for third. Exhibit Class now has $73,458 in career earnings from four wins and two seconds in six starts for trainer Sean Smithpeters and owner Marion Beachy. This homebred is the third and most prolific foal out of the Classic Photo mare Classic Blaze 5, 1:55.3 ($27,185).
The top eight point earners eligible the $300,000 Championship are as follows: Its Academic (204 points); Exhibit Class (179); Big Box Hanover (124); Attache (109); Expect The Sweep (86); Doubleyellowline (80); Jarmbalou (79); and Action Uncle (65).
Ohio Sires Stakes continue on Wednesday, August 21 with three $40,000 divisions for two-year-old trotting fillies.
(OSDFA)