Six divisions of Ohio Sires Stakes sophomore trotting and pacing colts and geldings will line up behind the Miami Valley starting gate on Sunday afternoon (May 6).

Twenty-two diagonally-gaited specialists and 29 sidewheelers passed the Miami Valley entry box, necessitating three divisions for each gait. First-race post time will be 2:05 p.m. (ET).

Standouts returning from last season including $250,000 Ohio Sires Stakes Two-Year-Old Trot Championship winner Mission Accepted, a son of Manofmanymissions that is conditioned and co-owned by Jeff Conger for Ohio partners Knox Services (also the breeder) and David Wills in the second division (Race 6). Mission Accepted owns a mark of 1:54.3 taken in his last start at Miami Valley, when he captured a $50,000 Scarlet & Gray division. His career earnings stand at a healthy $215,800.

Sultan Of Cash — trained and owned by Roger Hughes Jr. — was a multiple Ohio Sires Stakes winner in 2017, and has three second-place finishes in a trio of starts this year. The winner of $152,765 is by Cash Hall, out of the Conway Hall mare Anything But Love, and will start from Post 2 in the first division (Race 2).

In the pacing ranks, Seeing Eye Single looks for another strong season, having captured the $250,000 Ohio Sires Stakes Championship for freshman pacing colts on September 2, 2017 at Scioto Downs. The son of Dragon Again is conditioned by Ron Burke for Burke Racing, Silva, Purnel & Libby, Karr and Weaver Bruscemi and has $209,355 in his coffers. He’ll go postward in the first division (Race 4) from Post 8.

Trainer Brian Brown will send out five pacing contestants, including $100,148 winner Dragonology and $70,248 earner Slick Mick in the first division (Race 4); the McArdle colt Lots To Live For in the second division (Race 8); and Rockin Away and Cinnamack in the third division (Race 12).

Conditioner Brenda Teague will send a formidable trio postward — one in each division. Delaware Chrome, a son of Mr Apples, will start from Post 7 in the first division (Race 4), while the Im Gorgeous colt Sip And A Bite has drawn the four-hole in the second division (Race 8), fresh off a 1:54 triumph at Harrah’s Philadelphia. Lather Up, another son of Im Gorgeous, will start from Post 8 in the final division (Race 12).

As in past years, each of the 2018 Ohio Sires Stakes divisions for two and three-year-olds include four legs, a championship to be contested at Scioto Downs on September 8, and a consolation at Northfield Park on October 13. The championship purse increased this season to hefty $275,000, while horses in the consolation will race for a respectable $60,000.

This season, however, the legs have a fluctuating purse based on the number of nominated horses who enter. If only one division is required for a leg, the purse will be $60,000; if two divisions are required, the purses will be $50,000 each; and if three or more divisions are required, then each will carry a $40,000 purse.

As well, $60,000 Veteran Championships for horses and mares of both gaits, four-year-olds and up, have been reinstated this season, and will be held at Northfield Park on October 6.

Leg Two of this series for sophomores will be as follows: June 2 at Northfield Park for three-year-old pacing fillies; June 9 at Scioto Downs for three-year-old pacing colts; June 11 at Northfield Park for three-year-old trotting fillies; and June 15 at Scioto Downs for three-year-old trotting colts.

(OSDF)