Aaron Merriman found the winner’s circle three times in four of the Ohio Sires Stakes races on Tuesday (July 18) at Eldorado Scioto Downs. Merriman swept both $55,000 divisions for freshman colt trotters and took one of the $55,000 divisions for two-year-old filly trotters.
In the first of two races for the colts and geldings, Royal Precedent and Merriman claimed the lead going to the first quarter as race favourite Tennessee Tom, with Chris Page, went off stride. Royal Precedent gave up the lead briefly to Rose Run Zoom and Don Irvine Jr., but quickly retook heading to the half. The gelded son of Creatine had to fight off a late charge from TTs Magnum Force and Jason Thompson, holding on to win by a half-length in 1:57, a new lifetime mark. It was the second win in three starts for the Sam Schillaci trainee, who is owned and was bred by the Claude Gendreau Stable. TTs Magnum Force was second with Rose Run Zoom third.
In the second division for the colts and geldings, Merriman piloted undefeated Spaaaanzano (pictured above) to his second Ohio Sires Stakes win of the year. Spaaaanzano raced to the lead from post seven and never looked back, going gate-to-wire in 1:57 for the 2-3/4-length triumph. It was the third win in as many starts for the son of Coraggioso. Chris Beaver trains and co-owns with Spaaaartners, Bill Manes and Leo Fleming. Spaaaanzano raised his earnings over the $100,000 mark to $122,500 with the victory. Commander Tom finished second with A Million In Coins third.
On the filly side, Merriman collected his first Sires Stakes win of the night as he took another Chris Beaver trainee, Possibility wire-to-wire to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:56. The win was the first in three starts for Possibility. The daughter of What The Hill is co-owned by Beaver, W J Donovan, Joe Sbrocco and Mark Moger. Shes Spicy was second with Sister Wives finishing third.
Driven by Ronnie Gillespie, Sugar Instead made it two-for-two in Sires Stakes starts with a winning effort in the evening's other division for fillies. Sugar Instead settled into the third spot through the first half-mile. Heading up the backstretch, Gillespie took the Volstead filly to the lead and won by 1-1/2 lengths in a new lifetime mark of 1:56.2. Trained by Virgil Morgan Jr. and owned by Joyce McClelland and Larry Wills, Sugar Instead has won two of her first three outings. Iam Independent finished second with Midnight Daydream third.
Ohio Sires Stakes action continues on Wednesday night at MGM Northfield Park with three divisions of two-year-old filly pacers. First race post time is 6 p.m.
(With files from Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association)