Two-year-old trotting colts and fillies battled on a steamy Friday night, July 17 at Scioto Downs in seven $40,000 Ohio Sires Stakes Leg 2 divisions.
Swizzle Hanover continued her dominance by winning easily the first filly division in 1:57.4 for driver Mike Wilder and trainer/owner Randy Bendis. The daughter of Uncle Peter left the gate as the 1-5 favourite, and now has $40,000 in career earnings from her two OHSS victories. Newcomer Ciao Baby Hall (Aaron Merriman) got up for a close second at 6-1 with 12-1 Momma Knows Best (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) notching third-place honours.
Street Gossip, the 1-1 choice, captured the first colt trotting division with Brett Miller driving for Virgil Morgan Jr. in 1:57. The son of Cash Hall was a solid third in his OHSS Leg 1 contest and now has $26,694 in career earnings for Carl Howard and the Jesmeral Stable. Replica Hanover (Tyler Smith) was second at 7-2 with Rose Run Wilson (Mike Wilder) third.
Spyder The Striker cruised to victory in the second OHSS colt trot with Aaron Merriman at the lines in 1:57.4. The son of Uncle Peter is trained by co-owner Chris Beaver for partners Charles Beaver, Leo Fleming and Vip Internet. The win was his second straight in the OHSS series and upped his career earnings to $40,000. Fire Cross (Kayne Kauffman) was second at 22-1 with 63-1 My Thunder third for Danny Noble.
Herculisa, the 1-5 favourite, took her OHSS test in the same fashion she captured Leg 1, with a front-stepping effort for driver Brett Miller and trainer Virgil Morgan Jr. Her winning time of 1:56.2 was just two-fifths of a second off the track record. Owned by Jesmeral Stable, the daughter of My MVP now has three career triumphs in as many starts and owns a bankroll of $41,812. Magic Credit Card (9-1) was second for Ronnie Wrenn Jr., with 9-1 Ozma getting up for third in rein to Aaron Merriman.
Celebrate With Me took the lead at the three-quarters and never looked back in the third OHSS contest for trotting fillies, stopping the timer in 1:56.4. Kurt Sugg steered the daughter of Full Count for trainer Marty Wollam, who co-owns the filly in partnership with Toni Dean. It was Celebrate With Me’s first career victory and pushed her career earnings to $25,472. Bank My Way, a 44-1 longshot, was second for Chris Page, while 26-1 Ti Punch was third for Cameron McCown.
Merry Ann, the 1-2 favourite, cruised to an impressive 1:57.4 triumph for driver Chris Page and trainer Ronnie Burke in the fourth OHSS filly trot. The daughter of Southwind Spirit is owned by Burke Racing, Knox Services and Weaver Bruscemi, and picked up her first career victory with the OHSS win. Her earnings now stand at $31,700. A Doll Face (3-1) was second for Kayne Kauffman while 53-1 Cash N Chips was third for Dan Rawlings.
Winning Ticket proved to be just that as he captured the final OHSS division for two-year-old trotting colts in 1:57.1. The son of Triumphant Caviar was driven to his first career victory as the 6-5 favourite for trainer Chris Beaver, who co-owns with Steven Zeehandelar, Tim Homan and Jim Burnett. Perron was second for Ronnie Wrenn Jr., while Petes Passion, a 43-1 longshot, got up for third with Kurt Sugg in the bike.
(With files from OSDF)