The trio of three-year-old trotting colts who captured their respective $40,000 Ohio Sires Stakes (OHSS) on Friday night, June 15 at Scioto Downs couldn’t be more different.
All three are by different Ohio-registered stallions; none were trained or driven by the same person; and all have ownership connections from three different states.
Mission Accepted, who captured Leg 1 of this series on May 6 at Miami Valley in 1:53 by four lengths, put forth a similar effort in his OHSS division at Scioto, this time winning by two lengths in a track, personal best and national season’s record clocking of 1:52.
The unaltered son by Manofmanymissions used similar, wire-to-wire tactics for driver Ryan Stahl to nail down his third win in as many tries this season, upping his 2018 earnings to $65,000 for the Ohio-based partnership of trainer Jeff Conger, breeders Knox Services and David Wills as the 1-2 favourite.
Two OB Wonkenobi was second for driver Sam Widger at 9-2 odds, while 7-2 Get The Cash and driver Greg Grismore picked up third-place money.
Mission Accepted, who captured the $250,000 OHSS Championship for freshman trotters on September 2, 2017 at Scioto Downs, now has seven wins and a third in ten career starts and $255,800 in his bankroll. The bay colt is the fifth foal out of the SJs Photo mare Witty Girl and is a half-brother to March Awareness (by Ken Warkentin) 7, 1:53f ($398,059) and to Wittys Winner (by Jailhouse Jesse) 5, 1:54.4s ($95,757) and has a full brother in the two-year-old Wittyville, who recently qualified in Q2:01.2f.
In the second OHSS division, 4-1 Uncle Buck took Aaron Merriman to a spirited 1:54.3 new lifetime mark victory, besting 10-1 longshot MVP Luke (Danny Noble) by one and one-quarter lengths, with 31-1 longer shot Secret Bro finishing third for Sandy Beatty.
Trained by Steve Bauder for Mokena, Illinois-owner Wayne Temple, the bay gelded son by Stormin Normand grabbed the lead at the 1:25.2 three-quarter marker and never looked back en route to his fourth victory of 2018. He now has five wins, six seconds and a trio of thirds in 19 career trips postward.
Uncle Buck’s seasonal earnings stand at $53,150, with $64,429 earned lifetime. Bred by Illinois’ Orville Rursch, he is the third foal out of the Brilliant Victory broodmare Brilliant Linda and has half-siblings in Brilliant Winner (by Polar Winner) 2, 2:07.2h ($10,104) and Polar B (by Polar Winner) 2, 1:57.2h ($49,114).
Pennsylvania-owned and trained invader Rising MVP, who was making his first start in the OHSS series, captured the third and final division in 1:56.2 with Chris Page at the lines. Trained by William Daugherty Jr. for his wife, owner Susan Daugherty of Mercer, Pennsylvania, the altered son by My MVP left the gate at odds of 7-1, besting 22-1 longshot Manny L (Jeff Nisonger) by a neck with 1-5 favourite Sultan Of Cash (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) getting up for third, half a length back.
Rising MVP returned $16.40 on a two-dollar ticket as he picked up his first win this year. His seasonal earnings stand at $24,048 with his lifetime bankroll at $89,268 from 10 wins, two seconds and two thirds in 18 starts. Bred by Mahlon A. Miller of Sugarcreek, Ohio, Rising MVP is the third foal out of the unraced Credit Winner mare Nutmegs Winner and is a half-brother to Rail Kat (by Muscle Native) 4, 1:56f ($137,454) and Rally In The Hall (by Amigo Hall) 3, 2:00f ($18,480).
After the first two Ohio Sires Stakes legs in this division, the following horses are the top point earners: Mission Accepted (102), Sultan Of Cash (64), Uncle Buck (64), Northmedo Mission (52), MVP Luke (52), Two OB Wonkenobi (52) and Rising MVP (51).
Leg 3 for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings will be contested on July 9 at Northfield Park and Leg 4 on August 24 at Scioto Downs, with the $275,000 Championship set for September 8 at Scioto Downs and the $60,000 Consolation October 13 at Northfield Park.
(With files from OSDF)