Twelve divisions of Ohio Sires Stakes will be contested this coming weekend in the Buckeye State.

Two $50,000 events for three-year-old trotting fillies are slated for Friday night (July 10) at Northfield Park. In terms of Scioto Downs on Saturday (July 11), four $40,000 sires stakes races for two-year-old pacing colts and two-year-old pacing fillies will be on tap, along with a pair of $50,000 divisions for three-year-old trotting colts.

When it comes to Friday at Northfield, 16 trotting fillies are scheduled to line up behind the starting gate in third-leg sires stakes action (the splits have been carded as Race 2 and 4). Guinevere Hall, Ohio's current sires stakes leader in her division, has won both of the previous legs handily with Peter Wrenn driving for trainer Melanie Wrenn. The daughter of Cash Hall is owned by the M T Pockets Stable and Dave McDuffey and has banked $174,181 in career purse earnings.

Kikimora heads up the second sires stakes division for trainer and co-owner Chris Beaver and breeder/co-owner Sandra Burnett. The daughter of Triumphant Caviar has also won both of her previous sires stakes battles and sports a lifetime bankroll of $251,516. Kikimora has drawn the outside post for driver Aaron Merriman, who knows the talented filly well.

On Saturday at Scioto, 11 sophomore trotting colts are set to battle in Leg 3 action (Race 4 and 10). Returning sires stakes winners include Yanks Dugout from Post 5 in the first division for driver Kurt Sugg and owners Duke and Ivan Sugg, while the Virgil Morgan Jr.-trained Action Uncle and Ronnie Burke-conditioned Wading Boots are set to spar in the second division.

A total of 34 freshman pacing colts are set to make their debut in sires stakes contests in Race 1, 6, 11 and 13. Ohio-registered stallions represented by progeny in these events include eight by Pet Rock, four by Racing Hill, and three each by McArdle, Well Said and Yankee Cruiser. The stallions Art Official and The Panderosa will each have two foals competing, while Art Official, Cheyenne Rei, Domethatagain, Manhardt, Mr Apples, Rockin Amadeus, Western Terror, Western Vintage and Woodstock will each be represented by one foal.

Likewise, 35 pacing fillies are set to battle in their first sires stakes tests in Race 3, 8, 12 and 14. Ohio-based stallions represented by the females include six each by Racing Hill and Well Said, four each by McArdle and Pet Rock, and three by Yankee Cruiser. The stallions Domethatagain and Nob Hill High will both have two foals racing, while Arthur Blue Chip, Big Bad John, Manhardt, The Panderosa, Western Terror, Western Vintage and We Will See will each be represented by one foal.

(Ohio Standardbred Development Fund)