Bythemissal and Barrys Berries will try to make it two-for-two as the second leg of the Ohio Sire Stakes for three-year-old Ohio-bred pacing colts take to the MGM Northfield Park track on Saturday, June 11.
The two were winners at Miami Valley Raceway on May 7. Each of the two divisions will carry a purse of $55,000.
In the first division, Bythemissal will look for his fourth win in as many starts for trainer Ron Burke. Ronnie Wrenn Jr. will drive the Downbytheseaside colt, who set a new lifetime mark of 1:51.1 in his first leg victory. Owned by Burke Racing Stable, Eric Good, Rich Lombardo Racing, and Weaver Bruscemi, Bythemissal is the 6-5 favourite.
The second choice in the first division is Western Ready. The son of Western Vintage will be making his first start of the year. Aaron Merriman will drive the Scott Ferguson trainee. Western Ready is owned by the Toops Stable.
In the second division, Barrys Berries will look for his fourth win of the year. Trained by Ron Burke and owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, J&T Silva – Purnel & Libby, and Knox Services, Barrys Berries is the 9-2 second choice behind favourite Gulf Shores and Sling Shock. Tony Hall will drive the son of Downbytheseaside.
Gulf Shores, the Ohio Two-Year-Old Pacing Colt of the Year, will be making his second start of the year and his first appearance in the 2022 Ohio Sires Stakes. Ronnie Wrenn Jr. will drive the 7-5 favourite for trainer Brian Brown and owners Country Club Acres, Diamond Creek Racing, and Wingfield Brothers LLC.
Sling Shock is the second choice in the race at 4-1. Trained by Christi Noble and driven by Dan Noble, Sling Shot has hit the board in all three starts this year, winning once. Sling Shock is owned by Michael Cimaglio, William Richardson, William Salmeri, and Rhonda Gilmartin.
Both Gulf Shores and Sling Shock were sired by Downbytheseaside. Eight of the 11 sophomore Buckeye-bred colts were sired by Downbytheseaside.
The two Ohio Sires Stakes races are part of the 15-race card at MGM Northfield Park that includes the Battle of Lake Erie. First race post time is 6 p.m.
(OHHA)