Four $40,000 Ohio Sires Stakes featuring two-year-old pacing fillies were contested on a pleasant Friday evening, July 5 at Northfield Park. This was the first of four legs in the rich series for state-bred distaff side-wheelers.
Artful Dancer took the first division handily in a wire-to-wire 1:55.2 clocking for owners Jay Mossbarger and Steve Carter. It was the second lifetime start for the daughter of Yankee Cruiser, who is the first foal out of the Sportswriter mare Dancin Caroll p, 2, Q1:55.1f ($81,646). Trained by Steve Carter, Artful Dancer was bred by Midland Acres and D. & C.C. Drake. This precocious filly, who was the even-money favourite, bested 3-1 Arya Again (Ryan Stahl) by half a length, with 7-1 Odds On Athens (Peter Wrenn) getting up for third.
The second OHSS division saw Treasurethosechips (Greg Grismore) use similar tactics to win by a neck over 6-5 Sara Jane (Ronnie Wrenn, Jr.) in 1:55.1. The Breeze (Chris Page) was a surprising third at 19-1. Trained by Jeff Nisonger for John Van Horn, the Arts Chip lass is the third foal out of the Jennas Beach Boy mare Give Me Points p, 4, 1:57.3 ($10,650) and is a full sister to Always Take Points p, 3, 1:53.4f ($27,005). Treasurethosechips was second in an Ohio Fair Stake at Circleville on June 17 and now sports a bankroll of $20,701. She was bred by Ken Cohen and Pacey Mindlin.
Ronnie Wrenn Jr. steered 7-1 Ellagator to a triumphant 1:54 victory by a quarter of a length after chasing down the leading 1-5 Rockmatic (Tony Hall) in the third OHSS division. Looksgoodinaromper, a 25-1 longshot, was third for Chris Page. Owned by Howard Taylor and trained by Chris McGuire, the daughter of Western Vintage is the first foal out of the unraced Total Truth mare Dame Truth. Bred by Nancy Johansson, this was Ellagator’s first career win in her pari-mutuel debut.
McMarkle Sparkle, the 1-9 favourite, did not disappoint her backers as the homebred McArdle lass paced to a respectable 1:54.3 victory—the fastest clocking of the four OHSS contests. Trained by Jim Arledge Jr. for Laura and Paul Baker of Galloway, Ohio, McMarkle Sparkle was a front-stepping winner for driver Brett Miller and prevailed by 1-1/4 lengths over 15-1 Hoochie Girl (Chris Lems) with 80-1 longshot Let Me Be Clear (Chris Page) grabbing third place money. McMarkle Sparkle is out of the Towners Big Guy mare Its Ladies Nite p, 3, 1:51s ($56,535)—herself a former OHSS victress. The filly has half-siblings in Alwaysagoodthing (by Metropolitan) p, 4, 1:52.3f ($98,525) and It’s a Deal (by Metropolitan) p, 4, 1:57.2h ($21,429).
(With files from Ohio State Racing Commission)