The Ohio Standardbred Development Fund has received 1,148 nominations of two- and three-year-olds sired by Ohio-registered pacing and trotting stallions for the 2017 Ohio Sires Stakes.
The OHSS series -- the most lucrative of any for Ohio-bred Standardbreds -- saw a six percent gain from 2016, which had 1,091 nominees in these same categories and a 49 percent increase from 2015 nominations (774).
The OHSS series features four $40,000 legs per division -- divided by age, gait and gender -- and eight $250,000 championships, along with eight $50,000 consolation events.
The 2017 figures are more than double 2014 nominations (457) and nearly triple 2013 figures (387).
Of the 1,148 nominees, 767 were two-year-olds and 381 were three-year-olds.
In the freshman pacing ranks, 229 colts and 193 fillies have been nominated. In those divisions, the stallion Pet Rock dominated -- having sired 50 of the colts and 29 of the fillies. Dragon Again sired 34 colt and 25 filly nominees, while McArdle sired 28 colt and 21 filly nominees. The stallions Art Official, Big Bad John and Yankee Cruiser each sired 15 of the two-year-old pacing colts nominated, while Big Bad John was represented by 18 freshman side-wheeling fillies, Art Official by 13 and We Will See by 12.
Among the two-year-old trotting youngsters, 235 colts (up 63 percent from 2016) and 110 fillies were nominated. Dejarmbro sired the majority of nominees with 52 colts and 17 fillies, with the stallion Manofmanymissions parenting 31 colts and 12 fillies. Break The Bank K sired 28 of the nominated trotting colts, with My MVP responsible for 18 and Cash Hall for 17. The sire Triumphant Caviar is represented by 13 colts and ten fillies nominated in this division.
In the three-year-old pacing ranks, 233 nominations were received, with 123 colts (a 30 percent increase from 2016) and 110 fillies (up 21 percent from 2016). Little Brown Jug victor Big Bad John held the top stallion spot among both genders with 28 colts and 19 fillies nominated, while McArdle had 27 colts and 18 fillies made eligible to the OHSS program. As well, the stallion Art Official had 19 of his colts nominated and 16 of his fillies, while The Panderosa is represented by seven colts and nine fillies.
In the sophomore trotting ranks, 75 colts and 73 fillies (up four percent from 2016) were nominated, with Dejarmbro leading both genders with 27 colts and 24 fillies. Break The Bank K (nine colts and six fillies); Triumphant Caviar (eight colts and ten fillies); Full Count (seven colts); and Chip Chip Hooray (seven fillies) were all stallions with heavy representation among the three-year-old trotting nominations received.
While the majority of OHSS nominations came from Ohio residents, a healthy number of those meeting the March 15 deadline came from stables, owners and trainers residing in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Delaware, Florida and Canada. Nominations also were received from folks in Tennessee, Idaho, New Hampshire, Iowa, Illinois, Virginia, Maryland, Missouri and Mississippi.
Ohio continues to lead the U.S. in number of broodmares bred (2,950 in 2016) to the Buckeye State’s 141 stallions (as of this writing) registered with the Ohio State Racing Commission in 2017.
The first OHSS event is less than a month away, with sophomore trotters and pacers vying in the first $40,000 leg on May 1 (fillies) and May 2 (colts) at Miami Valley Raceway.
(with files from OSDF)