Trainer Chris Beaver captured both of the $50,000 Ohio Sires Stakes contests for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings on a blustery and rainy Saturday night, June 15 at Northfield Park.
Beaver harnessed 5-2 Never Say Uncle from post nine to take the first division in 1:56.1 with Brett Miller at the controls over a sloppy track. The bay son of Uncle Peter used come-from-behind tactics to notch his third lifetime victory, pushing his career earnings to $95,610.
Never Say Uncle was a full 4-1/2 lengths ahead of 9-1 rival Dylan The Great (Kurt Sugg) at the wire, while 14-1 Voyage To Paris (Kayne Kauffman) did well to be third.
Owned by Chris Beaver, Johanna Beaver, Michael Carter, and Mary McLoughlin, the homebred Never Say Uncle now has three wins, two seconds and three thirds in 13 career starts. He is the first foal out of the Glidemaster mare Travelin Dream, 3, 1:55.3f ($40,745), and was scratched from leg one of this series at Miami Valley on May 5.
In the second division, 10-1 longshot Otsego took advantage of a perfect steer by Aaron Merriman to prevail by a neck over 8-5 Yes (Ryan Stahl) in a career-best 1:55.3. The Dejarmbro gelding picked up his third lifetime win in 10 starts, upping his bankroll to $58,918 for owners Chris Beaver, Martin Yoder, Steven Zeehandelar and Vip Internet Stable. Chris Page guided 9-1 Wittyville to show honours.
Bred by Jonas Schlabach, Otsego was fifth to Wittyville in leg one of this series. He is the first foal out of the Conway Hall mare You And Me Baby.
(Ohio State Racing Commission)