Trainer Roger Hughes Jr. has been waiting a lifetime for Sultan Of Cash, and the two-year-old trotting colt is delivering for Hughes and his family in a big way.

The son of Cash Hall trotted to a lifetime best 1:57.1 en route to winning his $40,000 Ohio Sires Stakes-Leg 2 test handily on a blisteringly-hot and steamy Tuesday (July 18) at Scioto Downs. It was one of a quartet of Ohio Sires Stakes (OSS) for freshman trotting colts held that afternoon.

It was the fourth consecutive victory for Sultan Of Cash in as many lifetime starts, and pushed his career earnings to $43,615. Driver Ronnie Wrenn, Jr., was in the sulky behind the youngster, whom Hughes says has been perfect in every way.

“My grandfather had horses and that’s how I got into the business,” said Hughes, Jr., who works full time as a manager for an automotive manufacturing company, and trains at the Wilmington, Ohio county fairgrounds in his spare time. “I bought this colt last year at November Blooded Horse Sale after his pedigree caught my eye. I wasn’t actually even at the sale; I was at work, but I called a buddy and said if this colt is available, I want him. I really didn’t think I’d be able to touch him, but I got very lucky.”

When the gavel fell for the last time, Hughes, Jr., had purchased the yearling trotter for $4,000.

“I was just looking through the sale book and saw that he had three full brothers who had taken marks of 1:56 or faster and that really appealed to me,” Hughes Jr., admitted. “He’s been a dream come true for my family. My sister and mother are involved with the horses too and having a horse in the sires stakes at this level is just anything beyond our wildest dreams.”

Sultan Of Cash is the seventh foal out of the unraced Conway Hall mare Anything But Love and is a full brother to Catch The Dream, 7, 1:52s ($548,463); My Future Ex, 6, 1:55.4s ($100,990); and Moneydontbuyulove, 3, 1:56.4f ($10,860).

Sent off as the even money favourite, Sultan Of Cash was content to sit behind the leading Manny L (Kayne Kaufmann) through a :28 first quarter and :58 second quarter clocking before taking over the lead. Once on top, he trotted comfortably through a 1:27.1 third panel with a :30 final quarter brush to finish one length in front of 3-1 Countthebenjamins (Chris Page) with 11-1 Mr Jubilant (Aaron Merriman) nabbing show honors.

Count On Cody (Jason Brewer) captured his OhSS test in 1:57.1 for trainer Marty Wollam and owners-breeders Acadia Farms of Canfield, Ohio and G&B Racing of New Wilmington, Penn. The son of Full Count was on the front end for nearly the whole mile and now has $33,400 in earnings after finishing second in Leg 1 of this series on July 8 at Northfield Park. In My Dreams was second at 5-1 for trainer Hugh Beatty, while 10-1 Dontforgetmaster (Josh Sutton) was third.

Sugar Top (Peter Wrenn) and Joggintothebank (Dan Noble) gave the Scioto fans a healthy duel as they battled down the stretch in the third OhSS division with the former prevailing by a head over the latter in 1:57. Woof, a 12-1 shot, was third for Dave Palone. Sugar Top, a son of Manofmanymissions, out of the Sir Taurus mare Sugar, was fifth in Leg 1 of the series at Northfield Park on July 8. Conditioned by Melanie Wrenn, Sugar Top is owned by Gene Oldford of St. Clair, MI and Wrenn Racing of Carmel, Ind. and now has $22,000 in career earnings.

Driver Kayne Kauffman piloted 12-1 Cash Lane to a wire-to-wire victory in the final OhSS division, with the son of Cash Hall stopping the timer in 1:56.2. Owned by Richard Finfrock of New Carlisle, Ohio, Cash Lane upped his career earnings to $23,200 with the win. Trained by Mike Polhamus, Cash Lane had finished a modest fourth in Leg 1 at Northfield. Win Chaser was second, two lengths behind the winner, at 5-2 for trainer Anthony MacDonald, while 43-1 longshot Banker Twentyfive was third for Ronnie Wrenn, Jr.

(with files from OSDF)