Donttruckwithme and Party Up are three-for-three in the Ohio Sires Stakes this season following victories in the third leg for freshman pacers at Northfield Park on Saturday, Aug. 8.

Donttruckwithme, driven by Chris Lems, earned his third Sires Stakes win and remained undefeated in his five-race career after taking one of the $104,167 divisions for colts and geldings in 1:53.3. The Catch The Fire-Age Of Consent gelding cleared to command after the :27.3 first quarter and cruised through middle fractions of :57.1 and 1:25.3 on his way to the three-length victory ahead of late-closer The Mighty Brix (Marvin Luna), with Into The Blaze (Ronnie Gillespie) third. 

Donttruckwithme, who was $51,388 Ohio Select Yearling Sale purcase, is trained by Daren Harvey for owners Wayne Mast Jr. of Dundee, Ohio, Eden Acres Farmstead of Millersburg, Ohio and Kirk Nichols of London, Ohio. With three Sires Stakes victories plus wins in The Next Generation and Ohio State Fair Stakes, he has amassed $322,550 already in his career.

Party Up matched Donttruckwithme with her third Sires Stakes win of the season and remained perfect in her career, taking one of the $104,167 divisions for filly pacers in 1:54.2. Driven by Dan Noble, the Lather Up-Artchitecture filly had the lead at every call, setting fractions of :28, :57.2 and 1:25.4, and turned back a challenge from runner-up Splendid Station (Justin Irvine) to win by 1-1/4 lengths, with pocket-sitter Breadnbutterz (Chris Lems) rounding out the top three. 

Party Up, a $23,944 yearling purchase from the Standardbred Horse Sale, is trained by Joe Bongiorno for owner Morrison Racing Stables of Indiana, Pennsylvania. Her only starts have come in the Sires Stakes, where she has banked $122,505.

Dan Noble also won with Jett James taking the fastest division of the night for male pacers in a lifetime-best 1:51.4. Jett James was in control after a :28.3 opening and expanded his lead through panels of :56.4 and 1:24.2 en route to the five-length tally. First Grade (Chris Page) came on for second over his Ron Burke stablemate North Rim (Chris Lems).

Jett James is a Monte Miki-Albrizzi Hanover gelding owned and trained by Adam Short. He has hit the board in all six of his starts with three wins, one second and two thirds while banking $110,795.

The fastest filly winner was Tempting Flames, who recorded a dominating performance for driver Dave Palone, winning by 14 lengths in 1:52.3. The Catch The Fire-Hotshot Temptress filly led gate to wire with fractions of :28.1, :57.1, and 1:25 before taking off in a :27.3 final frame en route to her second Sires Stakes victory. Jar Of Hearts (Ronnie Gillespie) and Pa Lexi (Dan Noble) rounded out the top three.

Tempting Flames is trained by Michael Hitchcock for owner William Hartt of Carmel, Maine. A $72,222 yearling buy out of the Ohio sale, she has hit the board in all five of her starts with three wins and two seconds, banking $215,654.

Celebrating its 50th season, the Ohio Sires Stakes continues Sunday, Aug. 16, with the fourth leg for freshman filly trotters at Northfield.

(With files from Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association; photo of Donttruckwithme winning on Aug. 8)