Scioto Downs plays hosts to the richest night in Ohio harness racing history on Saturday evening, Sept. 12 with $2,285,000 in purses dangling precariously on the finish line as Buckeye State’s best Standardbreds battle for first-place prize money.
The five-eight’s mile oval will feature a 17-race card highlighted by eight $225,000 Ohio Sires Stakes (OSS) Championships for two- and three-year-old trotting and pacing colts and fillies. In addition, the $100,000 Chip Noble Memorial, the $225,000 Jim Ewart Memorial and the $40,000 Ryder Steck Memorial will also be contested. Post time is approximately 6:30 p.m.
Chris Beaver and Wilbur Lang’s Kestrel will be trying for a perfect 5-for-5 in the $225,000 OSS (Race 4) for freshman trotting fillies. This daughter of Triumphant Caviar has swept her division—winning each of her $40,000 OSS legs with aplomb—with her best effort coming at Scioto Downs one week ago, when she trotted to a 1:57.3, wire-to-wire victory. Bred by Wilbur Lang, Kestrel has $110,900 in career earnings.
Beaver will also harness two other top two-year-old fillies in this same event—Kerfuffle Cookie and Evanora. The former is a daughter of Chip Chip Hooray owned jointly by Beaver and Synerco Ventures of Toronto, ON who has won three OSS legs, while the latter is a daughter of Pilgrims Taj, bred and owned by Sandra Burnett of Wilmington, OH who captured two OSS legs.
Alan Keith’s Queen Ann M—who has triumphed in three OSS legs—carries the hopes of trainer Mike Roth into the $225,000 OSS Championship (Race 5) for freshman filly pacers. This daughter of Big Bad John gets the benefit of the rail slot in the nine-horse field and will have regular driver Chris Page at the controls. Bred by Jay Mossbarger, Queen Ann M has $74,325 in her seasonal coffers.
Miss Me Yet, Johns Sunny Girl, Big Bad Ashley and My Tweed Heart have each won two OSS legs for their connections in this same division.
Chris Beaver will also be adjusting the rigging on the two-year-old colt Kanthaka, who starts from post eight in the $225,000 OSS Championship (Race 6) for freshman trotters. Owned jointly by Beaver and breeder Wilbur Lang, the son of Triumphant Caviar has $105,250 in career earnings and has swept all four OSS legs of this series.
MJB Got Faith is another who has swept all four, $40,000 OSS legs for 11-year-old owner Breana Carsey of Connersville, IN. Bred by GBW Breeding Farms Inc., the son of Trainforthefuture has amassed $80,000 with his clean sweep of this series for driver Peter Wrenn and trainer Steve Carter.
Carl Howard’s Primo Giovanni is 6-for-6 lifetime and that includes victories in all four OSS legs—including a 1:53.1 posting at Scioto in the fourth leg on Sept. 5, and headlines the $225,000 OSS Championship (Race 7) for freshman pacing colts and geldings. The son of Big Bad John—who was bred by his owner—has $107,575 in his career bank account, and is conditioned by Virgil Morgan, Jr.
Stephen Sexton’s Friskie Cruiser has won three OSS legs in this same division, amassing $69,198 in career earnings for trainer Brian Brown. The son of Feelin Friskie was bred by his owner and took a career record of 1:54 in his OSS test at Northfield Park on Aug. 21.
Like Old Times and Dark Roast—both three-time winners in their respective OSS legs are set to wage war in the $225,000 OSS Championship (Race 8) for sophomore trotting fillies. Harnessed by trainer Don McKirgan, Keith Ross’ Like Old Times has $70,000 in career earnings and a career mark of 1:56 taken in her OSS leg at Scioto on Aug. 28. The daughter of Chip Chip Hooray was also bred by her owner.
Dark Roast—who was bred by Marvin Raber and is owned by Acadia Farms of Canfield, OH and G&B Racing of New Wilmington, PA, has $79,245 in her coffers. The daughter of Full Count is conditioned by Marty Wollam and recorded her top mark of 1:57.1 with Kurt Sugg at the lines in her OSS test on Aug. 14.
Crosswinds Cupcake brings a five-race win-streak into the $225,000 OSS Championship for three-year-old pacing fillies (Race 9). Conditioned by David Elliott for Stephen Sexton of Xenia, OH and breeder Crosswinds Farm of Waynesville, OH, the daughter of Stand Forever has $105,690 in her seasonal coffers and $146,362 in lifetime earnings. She has a trio of OSS legs to her credit and will have Dan Noble in the sulky from post eight.
Rival Karlee Sue has the benefit of the rail post in this same division, with Hall of Famer David Miller in the sulky for the first time. Trained by Al Tomlinson, the daughter of Feelin Friskie captured an OSS leg in 1:55.1 at Northfield Park on Aug. 14.
A trio of three-year-old diagonally-gaited specialists—who have each won two OSS legs—will butt heads in the $225,000 OSS Championship (Race 10) for sophomore trotters for the first time. I Know My Chip, Neelys Messenger and No Whip Chip are dual winners in this series—with each youngster hailing from a different sire.
I Know My Chip, a son of Deep Chip, is conditioned by Ron Burke and co-owned by his trainer, Weaver Bruscemi and Paul Collura--all residents of Pennsylvania. This speedy sophomore has earned $$132,875 this season with six wins in 10 starts and was bred by Kimberly Dailey.
Neelys Messenger is a gelded son of Neely Dunn and is the richest trotter in the field of nine with $287,545 in career earnings. Trained by Marty Wollam for Dale Sweet, Toledo, OH and Julie Sweet of Akron, OH, Neelys Messenger has 11 wins lifetime from 16 starts.
No Whip Chip is conditioned by driver Dan Noble for his mother, Debbie Noble of Xenia, OH. Unraced at two, the Victory Sam gelding has three wins in eight lifetime starts and $60,400 in career earnings.
Indian Spirit—owned by Gregory Forcum of Chillicothe, OH—has captured three OSS legs for his trainer Dan Ater and starts from post six in the $225,000 OSS Championship for sophomore pacing colts and geldings (Race 11). Bred by Bruce Lane, the son of Tylers Big Mark will have Kyle Ater in the sulky from post six—looking to add to his already hefty bankroll of $121,219.
Nobles Finesse (Kurt Sugg-post 4); Gray Camo (Chris Page-post 9); Imtoofastforyou (Josh Sutton-post 7); Dyno Mite Man (David Miller-post 3) and Chief Talkalot (Aaron Merriman-post 2) are others in this same division with a single solid OSS leg triumph to their credit.
(Scioto Downs)