With even-money favourite Lather Up galloping around the first turn, regaining his stride and breaking again around the second turn, Thinkbig Dreambig sat pocket to pacesetter Jimmy Freight and slingshot to a 1:50 victory in the $400,000 Carl Milstein Memorial on Saturday, Aug. 11 at Northfield Park.

Leaving from post one Jimmy Freight secured the top as Lather Up attempted to challenge to his outside before losing stride. Lather Up flattened his gait and rallied first over through a :27.4 opening quarter prior to jumping again and leaving Jimmy Freight alone on the lead.

Pacing the half in :55.3, Jimmy Freight faced first-over pressure from Dorsoduro Hanover, parked from the start, heading to three-quarters. Springsteen tracked cover from second over while Iowa-shipper Minnie Vinnie gained positioning at the rail. Dorsoduro Hanover faltered as Jimmy Freight paced to three-quarters in 1:22.3 with Thinkbig Dreambig his closest threat. Driver Jordan Stratton tipped the Jimmy Takter trainee out of the pocket at the head of the stretch and slid to a narrow victory while Minnie Vinnie, behind by open lengths, snagged third.

Owned by Brixton Medical Inc., John Fielding, Goran Anderberg and Goran Falk, Thinkbig Dreambig, a colt by Bettors Delight from the Jate Lobell mare Extreme Dream, won his fifth race in 10 starts, amassing $325,537 in career and seasonal earnings.

"I was a little worried [that] Jimmy Freight would get away from me and[, with] Lather Up the half might just be a little too tight for him," Stratton said. "I was kind of nervous - I thought that would be my horse making a break around the first turn. But then the two hole worked out - I pulled a little bit early just to get him in gear and he responded.

"We knew we had a good shot going in; Jimmy [Takter] was very confident in this horse. He's a little bit of a late bloomer but he's really showing his talent now. He had plenty of pace finishing going across the wire and we were a little nervous going around the half but Jimmy's crew does a great job and I was never really worried when they told me they were confident in him."

Thinkbig Dreambig returned $17.00 to win.

The three winners of ethe Ohio Sires Stakes (OSS) divisions for three-year-old pacing fillies were each clocked in 1:52.4 or faster.

In the first $40,000 division, even-money favourite Baron Remy, a Ron Burke-trainee, paced to a winning 1:52 mile with Chris Page at the lines. The Yankee Cruiser lass was second in legs one and three of the series for owners Burke Racing, Silva, Purnell & Libby, L Karr and Weaver Bruscemi. Sweetnfamous was second at 11-1 while 60-1 long-shot Tipp City was third.

Baron Remy now has $191,934 in career earnings from five wins in 18 starts. She was bred by the Baron Racing Stable.

Matt Kakaley steered the Steve Carter owned and trained Velocity McSweets to a 1:52.4 victory in the second OSS division. The McArdle filly, out of the Western Hanover mare Playful Sweetheart, left the gate at 3-2 and paced on the front to collect her eighth win of the year in 18 starts. Pure Paradise, the 7-2 choice, was second by a head for Chris Page, while 7-5 Bad Girls Rule was third.

Velocity McSweets now has $67,440 in career earnings.

Lily Grace, at 9-1, led gate to wire for Joey Putnam and held off the even-money favourite Up Front Flor Ida by a head in the third OSS division. The daughter of Shark Gesture was timed in 1:52.3 for the mile. Princess Rougarou picked up show at 11-1.

Lily Grace is trained and co-owned by Dan O’Mara for Dawne Luce and breeder Teresa Maddox. She has amassed $79,520 in lifetime earnings.

(With files from the Ohio Sires Stakes)