There was a lot to look forward to on Saturday, May 17 at MGM Northfield Park, as Ohio Sires Stakes action returned to the Home of the Flying Turns.
Northfield played host to a pair of divisions for three-year-old colt and gelding trotters and pacers.
Vekna (pictured above with Kayne Kauffman) kicked the evening off with a game victory in the first of two $90,278 divisions for trotters, but the path to victory wasn’t necessarily an easy one.
What A Buckeye (Dan Noble) left hard as the wings sprung, with Rose Run Alex (Chris Page) defending pylon position entering the first turn. Kauffman tried to put Vekna into play early, but seeing the hot tempo up front, he elected to save ground early.
What A Buckeye cleared the lead entering the backstretch, and got to the quarter in a testing :28.2. Noble pumped the breaks in the second panel, getting to the half in :58.3. Entering the backstretch, Vekna was guided to the outside and the sprint was on as What A Buckeye got to three-quarters in 1:27.3, feeling the daunting presence of Vekna breathing down his neck.
The pair dueled through much of the final quarter mile, with Vekna wearing down What A Buckeye for a half-length score in 1:56.3.
Owned by Natalie Kauffman, the son of Enterprise-Rare Book picked up right where he left as a freshman, pushing his career earnings to $125,341.
The $90,278 second division for trotters featured another great battle as Battle Hill (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) scored an impressive one-length victory over rival Scrappys Love (Noble).
Leaving alertly down the centre of the racetrack, Battle Hill and Scrappys Love dueled into the first turn. When Wrenn asked Battle Hill to go on, he responded, forcing Scrappys Love into the pocket entering the backstretch.
Battle Hill led the single file field through an opening quarter of :28.2, then through a modest half-mile of :58.2. Entering the clubhouse turn for the final time, race favourite LT Loverboy (Brett Miller) and Whats Shakin (Ronnie Gillespie), began a bid for the lead. Entering the backstretch, Battle Hill continued to put up all the numbers arriving at three-quarters in 1:27.2.
Through the final turn, Whats Shakin continued to loom large on the outside, with LT Loverboy, who appeared one paced, now champing at the bit turning for home. Battle Hill kicked clear through the stretch under confident handling, winning by a diminishing length in 1:56.3.
Owned by William Hartt, Battle Hill (Marseille-Battle Mage) is trained by local trainer Matthew Burkholder. The seventh victory of his career pushed his career earnings to $323,477.
The pacing glamour boys were up next on the program with Ron Burke trainee Fear The Hate rolling to a big victory in 1:52.4.
Fear The Hate (Page) wasted no time making the lead, dueling with Up Again (Noble) into the backstretch. When Up Again made a break up the backstretch, Fear The Hate capitalized, arriving at the quarter in :27.4
Twin B High Tide (Austin Hanners) began to make a bid for the lead approaching the half in :57.3, but Page who got the breather he wanted in the second panel showed no signs of slowing down. Through the stretch Pants On Fire (Wrenn Jr.) tried to chase down Fear The Hate, but was outmatched as Fear The Hate scored by 1-1/2 lengths.
Owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Knox Services and Beasty LLC, the three-year-old by Fear The Dragon - The Mad Hatter pushed his career earnings to $93,522.
In the final $90,278 division for sophomore pacers, Rick Wink made short work of his competition, winning easily as the heavy favourite.
Downbythewater (Wrenn Jr.), parked through much of a :27.4 first quarter, gave way to Rick Wink (Page) through the stretch for the first time. At the half in :57.4, Rick Wink appeared to have things his own opening up on his competition. Through the stretch, Rick Wink kicked clear winning by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:53.
The three-year-old by Battle of Lake Erie Champion Bit Of A Legend N - Mcgrin N Mcbare It pushed his career earnings to $421,814 for owners Burke Racing Stable, R A S Racing, Knox Services, J&T Silva-Purnel & Libby.
Live racing resumes at MGM Northfield Park on Sunday, May 18 with six divisions of $20,000 USD Buckeye Stallion Series events for three-year-old filly pacers. First post is 6:00 p.m.
(with files from Northfield)