The 2021 Ohio Sires Stakes (OHSS) season got off to a sizzling start on a sunny and breezy Sunday afternoon (May 2) at Miami Valley Raceway.
In the first of two $50,000 divisions of three-year-old pacing fillies it was the favourite Lady Arthur who stole the show for trainer and co-owner Dr. Ian Moore. The homebred daughter by Arthur Blue Chip, out of the Mach Tree mare April Three, used front-stepping tactics to nail her second win of the season in 1:53.3 with Ronnie Wrenn, Jr. at the lines.
Owned in partnership by Moore and the RG McGroup and Serge Savard, Lady Arthur now has $110,000 in her career coffers. She finished two lengths in front of 11-1 rival She Knows It All, with Babs Jansen half a length back in third.
The lone $60,000 trotting division saw Ronnie Wrenn, Jr. back in the winner’s circle, this time with the Ron Burke-trained Celebrate With Me, who got a garden trip before scoring the victory in 1:54.2 by half a length over Katies Lucky Day, while Aaron Merriman brought 16-1 longshot Ozma up for third-place honours.
Bred by Marvin Raber, Celebrate With Me is a daughter of Full Count out of the Andover Hall mare Glisten Hanover and now has $202,472 in lifetime earnings. She is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Howard Taylor, Weaver Bruscemi and Knox Services.
Burke harnessed the winner of the second pacing division, the even-money favourite Summer Touch, who paced to a winning time of 1:53.1 with Chris Page at the controls for a wire-to-wire effort.
Last year’s winner of the $300,000 Championship on Super Night, Summer Touch is a daughter of Well Said out of the Real Desire mare Real Touch and is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Knox Services, Slaughter Racing and Weaver Bruscemi. The homebred winner of $323,000 finished two-and-a-half lengths ahead of Leave Her Wild, with Rainy Day Chic nabbing third.
Ohio Sires Stake continue Monday (May 3) at Miami Valley Raceway, with four divisions of three-year-old colts and geldings. Post time is 2:05 p.m. (EDT).
(Ohio Sires Stakes)