The Ohio Sire Stakes season is in full swing at MGM Northfield Park, with the sophomore male pacers set to take center stage on Saturday, July 22. The fourth leg event features nine pacers lining up for one $100,000 dash for the cash.
Ron Burke conditions the 9-5 morning-line favourite, Wicked Character (pictured above), with the advantageous inside post. Since winning an opening round division of the Ohio Sire Stakes at Miami Valley Raceway on May 6, the son of Yankee Cruiser has only picked up a pair of fifth-place finishes in the subsequent legs and will be looking to return to his winning ways with Ronnie Wrenn Jr. at the controls. He is owned by Winterwood Farm, Timothy Sullivan, Robert Jackson and Tom Wilson.
Trainer Todd Luther will send out 2-1 second choice Burnout from post two. He has yet to get to the winner’s circle in his two tries in the Ohio Sires Stakes this year, but has been knocking at the door. Billy Davis Jr. will drive the son of Racing Hill for owner Greg Luther Racing.
Last year's two-year-old champion Rockmelikeyameanit will start from post six with Kurt Sugg catch-driving for trainer Christi Noble and owners Dennis Owens, Norman Rae Racing and James Morris. The 5-1 third choice on the morning line, the McArdle gelding has earned a pair of top-three finishes in the opening sophomore legs.
Ron Burke will also send out The Real Way, with early odds of 6-1, from post four. After starting the season winless from six starts, he has rattled off a pair of wins, including an Ohio Sires Stakes event last time out on July 1 at Scioto Downs, and seems to be finding his best as the year unfolds. Chris Page will drive the Downbytheseaside gelding, who is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Knox Services and Let It Ride Stables.
Quick Trick (Chris Lems), Dynamite Dylan (Ryan Stahl), Cross Creek (Hunter Myers), Racing Rampage (Arron Merriman) and Chronical (Luke Ebersole) complete the lineup.
The field of nine will be sent off in race 13, which features the 20-cent Super Hi-5 with a low 14 per cent takeout and a guaranteed pool of $10,000.
The stakes season heats up as MGM Northfield Park progresses towards the $300,000 Carl Milstein Memorial on Aug. 12.
(With files from Northfield Park)