Northfield Park hosted the first round of Ohio Sires Stakes for three-year-old colts and geldings of both gaits Saturday (June 13).

Yanks Dugout rode the front to capture the first of two $50,000 sires stakes for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings.

Driven by Kurt Sugg, Yanks Dugout was much the best as the 6-5 choice and recorded a life mark of 1:54.1 with his seventh victory in as many tries this year. The dark brown gelded son of Triumphant Caviar, trained by Edward Miller, upped his career earnings to $46,333 for owners Ivan & Duke Sugg of Dreshler, Ohio, who also bred the gelding.

Wading Boots was second best at 7-5, one-and-a-quarter lengths behind the winner, with 5-1 Expect The Sweep third for Aaron Merriman.

Yanks Dugout is the fourth foal out of the prolific Muscles Yankee mare Yansky 3, 1:57f ($122,127) and has half-siblings in Yanks Ball Girl (by Majestic Son) 4, 1:57f ($60,722); Fashion Can Do It (by Cantab Hall) 3, 1:58.1f ($30,030); and Yanks DJ (by Dejarmbro) 2,Q2:04.3f ($5,509).

In the second $50,000 sires stakes trotting division, Action Uncle set a Northfield Park track record for trotting sophomores of 1:53.2 with a perfect steer from driver Brett Miller. Trained by Virgil Morgan, Jr., the son of Uncle Peter left the gate at 1-2 odds and upped his career earnings to $256,075 for owners Carl Howard, Joyce McClelland and Larry Wills.

Action Uncle finished well ahead of second-place finisher 9-5 Its Academic with Buxton putting in a game performance to be third.

Bred by Kenneth Sommer, Action Uncle is the first foal out of the Broadway Hall mare Action-Broadway 4, 1:52.3 ($1,102,073).

Haggard got up in the final strides for driver Ryan Stahl and trainer Scott Cox to capture the first $50,000 sires stakes test for pacing three-year-olds in a career-best clocking of 1:53. The large black gelding by Big Bad John was bred by Spring Haven Farm and is owned by Parent Racing Stable of Whitehouse, OH. Haggard, who finished half a length in front of 2-1 Mr Wiggle It, left the gate at 5-1 odds, while 16-1 Epic Ace got up for third.

Haggard now has $36,475 in his coffers from four wins in six starts. He is the eighth foal out of the unraced Dragon Again mare Tura Hanover and is a full brother to Angry Shelby p, 3, 1:54.1f ($62,530) and a half-brother to: Town Temptress (by Artiscape) p, 5, 1:51.3 ($305,008); All Turain (by Tell All) p, 4, 1:52.2h ($127,138); and Tural Lural Lural (by The Panderosa) p,4, 1:53.1f ($124,259), etc.

Sandra Burnett's homebred bay gelding Ocean Rock demolished his competition in 1:50.2 in the second $50,000 sires stakes contest for pacing sophomores. Driven by Danny Noble for trainer Christi Noble, the son of Rockin Amadeus cruised to victory after leading at every pole as the 1-2 choice. Standford Court was second at 7-2 with 4-1 Can Be Perfect getting up for third.

Ocean Rock now sports a bankroll of $187,377. He is the first foal out of the On The Attack mare Ocean Pearl p,5,1:53.2f ($143,637).

Sophomore colts return to battle in the second prelim for the sires stakes on June 26 at Scioto Downs.

(with files from Ohio Sires Stakes)