Scioto Downs contested two $50,000 divisions of Ohio Sires Stakes (OHSS) second preliminary for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings on Saturday (June 19), with Rock N Republic and Charlie May emerging victorious from the splits.
Piloted expertly by Josh Sutton, Rock N Republic stormed past the field coming out of the final turn to capture his OSHS contest in a lifetime best of 1:51.3. Trained by Robert Taylor for Dossie L. Minor of Springfield, Ohio, the brown gelding by Pet Rock pushed his career earnings to $68,522 with this latest win, the 10th in 16 starts.
Bred by L&J Racing, Rock N Republic is out of the Dragon Again mare My Julianas Girl (p, 4, 1:52.3f [$121,560]) and is a half-brother to Juliana The Barn (by Art Major) (p, 3, 1:55.4f [$25,480]). The second leg of the four-event series was Rock N Republic’s first venture into OHSS competition.
The winner left the gate at 7-1 odds, finishing a neck in front of the late-charging Laughagain Hanover, with Im Sorry Man getting up for third in the late going for driver Chris Page.
The second OHSS division was a virtual slugfest between the two top rivals — Heart Of Chewbacca and Charlie May, who battled from the three-quarter marker to the wire, with the latter grabbing a half-length decision over the former in 1:49.3. Driven by Brett Miller as the 8-5 choice, Charlie May picked up his ninth win for breeder-owner Don R. Tiger of Canonsburg, Pa.
The gelded son of McArdle pushed his lifetime bankroll to $368,627. He is the seventh of nine foals out of the unraced Western Hanover mare Stipple Hanover and has half-siblings in Velocity Stifler (by Arts Chip) (p, 3, 1:50.3f [$217,143]) and Nikki Bella (by Arts Chip) (p,2, 1:55f [$47,005]), and in the two-year-old Racing Hill colt Shane Falco (p, 2, Q1:56.3).
Heart Of Chewbacca was the 8-5 public’s choice with Danny Noble driving, KB Mac was third for Hunter Myers.
(Ohio Sires Stakes)