Two Ohio freshman divisional winners will start the defense of their titles in the Ohio Sires Stakes opening leg on Friday, May 16 at Eldorado Scioto Downs. Mocha Hill, Ohio's 2024 Two-Year-Old Filly Trotter of the Year, will make her second seasonal appearance, while Odds On Hialeah, Ohio's Two-Year-Old Filly Pacer of the Year, will make her first start of the year.

There will be two $65,000 USD divisions each for filly trotters and pacers.

Mocha Hill and seven of her rivals will highlight the first filly trot division in race one. Trained by Ron Burke, the daughter of What The Hill will look to redeem herself after a break in the James K. Hackett Memorial final.  As the 4-1 third choice, Mocha Hill will leave from the seventh post position with Chris Page in the bike.

The 2-1 favourite, Mega Money, will leave directly inside Mocha Hill from the sixth post position. The daughter of Triumphant Caviar is three-for-three this season with a mark of 1:55.2. Aaron Merriman will drive for Chris Beaver.

Another Triumphant Caviar filly trained by Beaver will aim to take the second division of sophomore trotters. Triump Over You is the 2-1 favourite on the morning line. She has scored a first, second and third-place finish in four seasonal starts. Dan Noble will pilot Triump Over You from post four.

The 3-1 second choice is Rose Run Allison. This will be the second seasonal start for the daughter of Long Tom. Her previous effort earned her a fourth-place finish in the Hackett Memorial final. The Burke trainee will leave from post three with Page in the bike.

Seven three-year-old filly pacers will go behind the gate with Odds On Hialeah as the 6-5 early favourite in the first division. It will be the first start of the year for Odds On Hialeah. Brett Miller will guide the daughter of Lather Up from the seventh post position. She is trained by Virgil Morgan Jr.

Rose Run Aimee will challenge from post five as the 3-1 second choice. The daughter of Racing Hill won her sole start of the year in 1:51.3. Noble will drive for James Ehrsam.

The Word Is Out is the 8-5 favourite in the second division. The Well Said filly won the Hackett Memorial final in 1:52.4 under Burke’s conditioning. Page will guide The Word Is Out from post three.

Morgan will send Odds On Chesapeake to the gate as 9-5 second choice. The daughter of Downbytheseaside clocked a qualifying time in 1:51.1 and proceeded to win her next start with lengths to spare. Noble will leave with Odds On Chesapeake from the second post position.

Friday's first race post time at Eldorado Scioto Downs is 5:45 p.m.

(With files from Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association; photo of Mocha Hill winning last year at Dayton Raceway)