Rose Run Boom has had a solid start to his sophomore season, hitting the board in five of seven starts. But a victory in the Ohio Sires Stakes (OHSS) has proved elusive through three legs.

“He’s always had ability. It’s just a matter of putting it all together,” trainer Steve Carter said.

Coming off a freshman season that saw him finish with one win and one second in nine starts, Rose Run Boom has compiled a record of 1-1-3 in seven starts so far this year. All three of those third-place finishes have come in the OHSS, where he has faced off against the likes of 2025 Ohio Triple Crown and Horse of the Year winner Big Ranger and 2025 Buckeye Stallion Series divisional champion Tom Largo. With such stiff competition, Carter admits there wasn’t much more Rose Run Boom could have done in those first three legs. He may have an opportunity to shine this Sunday (July 12) as he drew the rail and opened as the 9-5 favourite in the second of two $75,000 USD divisions of the fourth leg of the OHSS for sophomore colt trotters at Northfield Park Racino. The 16-race card, which also includes two $75,000 USD divisions of the first leg of the OHSS for freshman colt pacers, begins at 6 p.m.

Rose Run Boom finished third behind a track-record performance from Big Ranger and second-place Tom Largo in the third leg of the OHSS at Eldorado Scioto Downs on June 13. He’ll face neither of those horses on Sunday, however, as Tom Largo is in the first division while Big Ranger was not entered. The In Range gelding out of Loconotion has raced twice since the third leg of the OHSS, winning an overnight race on June 23 and finishing fifth in the final of the Dr. Al Gabel Trot miniseries on July 4, both at Scioto Downs. Those up-and-down performances have defined his season, Carter said.

“He’s nice to be around, but I’d like to see him be a little more consistent,” he said.

Primary driver Luke Hanners is scheduled to be in the sulky again on Sunday looking to guide Rose Run Boom to a breakthrough win. Based on the morning-line odds, other top contenders in that seven-horse field include Knob Creek Moni (Dan Noble) at 7-2 and Time Has Come (Kurt Sugg) at 4-1, who will leave side-by-side from posts five and six, respectively. While anything can happen, conditions appear favourable for Rose Run Boom to finally secure an OHSS win. Carter is hopeful he will do just that.

“With the way the year is going so far, it would be a nice change,” he said.

First Division
Tom Largo (Chris Lems), a winner in each of the first two legs of the OHSS this year before finishing as the runner-up to Big Ranger in the third, drew post five and opened as the 2-1 favourite. The Long Tom gelding trained by Scott Cox recorded his lifetime mark of 1:53.1 in the second leg at Scioto Downs on May 25 and has hit the board in all six seasonal starts while banking $141,598. Rose Run Banker (Chris Page), the 5-2 second choice, will leave from the rail. The Ron Burke trainee was a winner in the opening leg of the OHSS at Miami Valley Raceway in 1:53.3 and finished second behind Big Ranger in the second leg. He was victorious in the James K. Hackett Memorial final and has three wins in five starts with earnings of $152,754 this season.

Freshman Colt Pacers
Donttruckwithme (Lems) headlines the entries for the first leg of the OHSS for freshman colt pacers. The winner of the $214,286 Next Generation for two-year-old colt pacers in 1:52.2 at Scioto Downs on July 4 drew post two and opened as the 9-5 favourite in the second division. He is trained by Daren Harvey. Atlantic Ivey (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) is the 5-2 second choice and will leave from post four. The Erv Miller trainee was the runner-up to Donttruckwithme in the Next Generation.

The third-place finisher in the Next Generation, North Rim (Wrenn Jr.), is the 2-1 morning-line favourite in the first division. The Burke trainee will leave from post three alongside stablemate and 4-1 second choice Ocean Party (Page) in post two.

OHSS Action Continues Monday

The OHSS continues Monday, July 13 at Northfield with three $50,000 USD divisions of the first leg for two-year-old filly pacers as part of a 16-race card starting at 6 p.m.

The 2026 Next Generation filly pace champion, Real Classy (Page), opened as the 7-5 favourite in the third division and drew post four. Burke trains the Downbytheseaside filly, who won her Next Generation race in 1:52.3. Breadnbutterz (Noble) is the 7-2 second choice coming off a third-place finish in the Next Generation. The Cory Deyermand trainee will leave from the rail.

Tempting Flames (Tony Hall) is the 5-2 morning-line favourite in the second division coming off a runner-up finish in the Next Generation in her career debut. Trained by Michael Hitchcock, the Catch The Fire filly will leave from post four.

Vernon Beachy trainee Sea Surge (Lems) opened as the 5-2 favourite in the first division after drawing post four.

(with files from Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association)