A quintet of $40,000 Ohio Sires Stakes for two-year-old trotting fillies was contested on a cool Monday evening, July 3 at Northfield Park. For many in this division, it was their first pari-mutuel battle under the lights at the half-mile “Home of the Flying Turns.”
Chris Beaver and Wilbur Lang’s Sesame (Aaron Merriman) made her career debut a winning one as she held off the late-charging Storm Beach Okidd (Peter Wrenn) to prevail by a neck in 1:59 in division one. The 9-5 Triumphant Caviar lass held the lead throughout the mile from the gate onward, snapping off fractions of: 30.2, 1:00.2 and 1:30 before posting a :29 final brush.
Bred by Jonas Schlabach, Sesame is the fifth foal out of the Credit Winner mare Jewell Creek and is a half-sister to Explosive Ripple (Explosive Matter) 1:58 ($82,464). Bang, a 24-1 longshot, finished third for Kayne Kauffman, beaten 8-1/4 lengths.
Trainer Norm Parker harnessed Looking For Zelda to a 1:59.1 triumph in the second OSS division with Tony Hall at the lines at odds of 2-1. The daughter of Break The Bank K gave a wire-to-wire performance as she notched her first lifetime win for owner-breeder Robert J. Key of Leechburg, PA. Looking For Zelda is the second foal out of My Winning Way K and is a half-sister to Boyz N Guitars (Muscle Massive) 1:58.3 ($24,007).
Impinktoo, a 9-1 full sister to world champion Pinkman, finished second for Peter Wrenn, while 9-1 Oh My My My (Joe Essig, Jr.) was third, 2-1/2 lengths back.
The biggest upset of the night came when To Russia scored a 1:59.1 winning debut in the third OSS division for driver Ryan Stahl, returning $92.80 on a two dollar win ticket. The daughter of Manofmanymissions is trained by Scot Cox for the Parents’ Racing Stable, and prevailed in the final lengths with a :28.4 final panel over Eds Chargin Lady (Chris Page) and favourite Red Storm (Aaron Merriman), who had lead the field through the first three-quarters of the one mile test before tiring in the stretch.
To Russia was bred by Switzerland’s Kjell Anderson and is the sixth foal out of Oaklea Odessa, 1:55.3s ($410,744) and is a half-sister to Muscle Babe (Muscle Mass) 1:53.3 ($250,630); Explosive Muscles (Muscle Mass) 1:54 ($184,589); and The Odessa Man (Angus Hall) 1:58.3 ($45,560).
John Sutton gave 8-1 Alanas Ways a perfect steer to grab the fourth OSS division in 1:58.3. The Dejarmbro lass bested 7-1 Ddream (Tyler Smith) and 4-1 Katy Did (Ronnie Wrenn, Jr.) by half a length at the wire for trainer Alicia Hanners and a quartet of Indiana, Michigan and New Jersey owners. Alanas Ways is the second foal out of the Cantab Hall mare Lady Bella and is a half-sister to She Drives Me Wild (by Pilgrims Taj) 1:59.3 ($23,921).
Trainer Danny Collins had This Years Best ready for a debut victory and she didn’t disappoint owner Joyce McClelland, trotting to a 2:01.2 triumph in the final OSS division. Driven by Dan Noble, the 5-2 homebred daughter by My MVP-Under My Thumb-Malabar Man stayed solidly-gaited in a race marred by multiple breakers. Now Helen was second for Ryan Stahl at 11-1, while 18-1 longshot Bugs MVP was third with Peter Wrenn driving.
Ohio Sires Stakes continue on July 4, with two-year-old pacing colts vying in a special matinee program at Scioto Downs.
(OSDF)