Speed was all the rage in five $40,000 Ohio Sires Stakes (OHSS) divisions for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings on Saturday night, July 22 at Northfield Park, beginning with the first division, when Drew The Dragon stormed to a blistering 1:51.4 triumph.
With Danny Noble at the lines, the Dragon Again gelding shattered the previous Northfield Park track record of 1:53.1, set by Barnabas (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) in 2016. That time also established a new world record for a two-year-old gelding on a half-mile track that was previously held by Littlebitoflife (Ryan Anderson), set at now-defunct Maywood Park in 2007.
Trained by Jim Dailey for the Ohio trio of Kim Dailey, Kevin Snyder and Shane Hines, Drew The Dragon paced through splits of :26.4, :55 and 1:23.1 before posting a :28.3 final brush to prevail over his rivals by three and a quarter lengths. It was his second career win in three starts and upped his earnings to $24,750.
Born To Be Bad, the 2-5 favourite, was second for Josh Sutton, while 7-1 Rock On Creek finished third for Chris Page. Mary Yoder bred Drew The Dragon, who was sent off at odds of 5-1 in this second leg of OHSS action. The youngster had made an uncharacteristic break in OHSS Leg 1 on July 4 at Scioto Downs and finished ninth, but kept it all together for his Leg 2 triumph.
Drew The Dragon is the seventh of eight foals out of Plan On It p,3,1:52.3 ($32,746) and is a half-brother to: E Street Plan (by Rocknroll Hanover) p,5, 1:49.4f ($301,903); Rockavellian (by Rocknroll Hanover) p,7, 1:50.4f ($222,746); and Ideal Plan (by Western Ideal) p,3, 1:52.4f ($82,277).
Trainer Brenda Teague harnessed Lather Up to a 1:52.2 clocking -- a new track record for two-year-old colt pacers in OHSS division five. The son of Im Gorgeous had won OHSS Leg 1 in 1:52.2 at Scioto Downs on July 4 and this victory was his second straight in three career starts. Driven by Montrell Teague, the 9-5 favourite upped his career earnings to $41,500 for owners/breeders Gary and Barbara Iles of Harrington, Delaware.
Spectacular Rock (Dan Noble) finished second at 2-1 odds, while 30-1 longshot Gonnarockyourworld was a solid third for Travis Seekman.
Trainer Brian Brown then sent out stablemates Slick Mick and Dragonology to win the next two OHSS divisions.
Slick Mick scored in 1:54.2 for driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr. It was the first career win in two tries for striking black son of The Panderosa. Owned by breeder Milton Leeman of Columbus, Ohio, Slick Mick now has $24,800 in career earnings, and had finished third in OHSS Leg 1, timed in 1:55.4. The 5-2 colt used a :27.3 final panel to best 9-5 favourite Rockathon (Josh Sutton) and 7-1 shot Lots To Live For (Chris Page) in this second round of OHSS action.
Slick Mick is the fifth foal out of the unraced Dragon Again mare Hufflepuff and is a half-brother to Hannah Abbott (by Dave Panlone) p,3, 1:53.s ($86,502) and to Buckeye Battle Cry (by Woodstock) p,3, 1:56f ($23,297), etc.
Dragonology (Chris Page), at 11-1 odds, prevailed with a 1:53.2 clocking in the third OHSS division. Owned by Country Club Acres, Joe Sbrocco and the Aws Stables, the son of Dragon Again boosted his earnings to $22,000 in just his second lifetime start. The youngster made a bold move going to the half and never looked back, besting 5-1 rival Hura Star (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) and 9-1 Panimal Kingdom (Josh Sutton). Bred by Kerry Feuker-Weed and Kenneth Weed, Dragonology is the third foal out of the Riverboat King mare La Diavla p,5,1:51.4f ($416,730).
Trainer Ronnie Burke and driver Dave Palone teamed up to score a victory in the fourth OHSS division with 1-5 Seeing Eye Single, who had also captured OHSS Leg 1 earlier this month. The son of Dragon Again used nearly identical tactics in both starts, grabbing the lead going to the half and pacing to an easy victory, both times in 1:53.1. Owned by Burke Racing; Purnel And Libby Silva, Lawrence Karr and Weaver Bruscemi, Seeing Eye Single bested 13-1 Jo Jos Pet Rock (Danny Noble) and 9-2 Cinnamack (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) easily. Seeing Eye Single is the first foal out of the Western Ideal mare Shabalabadingdong p,3, 1:52.2s ($181,197).
(With files from OSDF)