Two favourites, each steered by their respective drivers for the very first time, captured two $50,000 Ohio Sires Stakes Championships for older horses and geldings Saturday night at Hollywood at Dayton Racino.
Driver Chris Page steered the public’s choice Ladys Dude to an easy victory in the $50,000 Sires Stakes event for diagonally-gaited Standardbreds.
The altered four-year-old son of Victory Sam notched his third win in a row for trainer Ron Burke, as Page guided the gelding to victory with a front-stepping 1:55.1 effort. Rival Rompaway Galaxy was second for Mike Wilder, while Cant Cutthat Chip was third for Jack Dailey.
“I knew that this horse could get a little aggressive, so I did my best to keep him calm in the post parade,” Page stressed. “I knew I had the best horse so when the gate sprung I got him to the front as quickly as possible and it worked out great for us.”
Ladys Dude is trained by Ron Burke for the Burke Racing Stable LLC of Fredericktown, Pennsylvania, Weaver Bruscemi LLC of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, and Johnny Yoder of Dundee, Ohio. He upped his career earnings to $236,952 with the win, the 13th of his career. The bay gelding took his career mark of 1:53.2 last season at The Meadows.
Ladys Dude is the fifth of eight foals out of the broodmare Ladys Star (by Hi Noon Star) p, 5, 1:56.2F ($181,884), and has half-siblings in: Little Moola p, 4, Q2:03.2 ($38,040); Luddite Bluegrass (by Rocky Balboa) 2, 2:00.3M ($30,000); and Ladys Starlet (by Master Lavec) 3, 2:03f ($11,290).
Driver Dan Noble was in the sulky behind the highly favoured Dancin Yankee — Ohio’s Aged Pacer of 2014, 2013 and 2012 — as the pair captured the $50,000 Aged Pace Final in 1:51.3.
The seven-year-old son of Yankee Cruiser had captured this same event one year ago in 1:52.1 and tonight's win pushed his career earnings to $1,372,871 for the Baron Racing Stable of Horsham, Pennsylvania and Richard Lombardo of Solon, Ohio.
“This horse is just all class,” Noble said. “He’s got so much back class and is typical of any top horse that a driver is lucky enough to sit behind. He’s the consummate professional and there’s nothing bad you could ever say about him.”
Dancin Yankee now has 46 career victories to his credit, and has grabbed purse cheques in 113 of his 132 career starts, with 87 of those being either first, second or third-place finishes.
Bred by Elizabeth Wagner, Dancin Yankee was a $17,000 yearling purchase at the 2009 Ohio Select Sale, and is the first foal out of his dam. He is a full brother to $107,572-winning mare Cruzin To The Dance p, 3, 1:53.1f, and also has half-sisters in Dancin Caroll p, 2, Q1:55.1f ($78,146) and Dancin In the Nude p, 2, 1:55.1s ($19,012) — both by Sportswriter.
(Ohio State Racing Commission)