Queen Of The Pride turned in the fastest (1:54) of a quartet of $40,000 Ohio Sires Stakes for two-year-old pacing fillies, on a cool July 6 evening at Scioto Downs.
Driven by Tony Hall for trainer Kevin Lare and owner Frank Chick of Harrington, Delaware, the McArdle lass was never headed throughout the one-mile test, and upped her career earnings to $26,500 with her second career triumph. Rose Run Uptowngal, at 3-5, was second for Chris Page, while Sugar And Spite, an 85-1 longshot, finished third in rein to Ronnie Wrenn Jr. in the fourth OHSS division.
Sent off at odds of 7-2, Queen Of The Pride had previously won a $13,000 baby race at Pocono Downs in 1:56 on June 26. Bred by Brad Wallace, this speedy lass is the fourth foal out of the Western Ideal mare Lionness Hanover p, 2, 1:53M ($21,280), and has half-siblings in Roaring To Go (by Art Major) p, 2, 1:50.4 ($421,999); Well Lets See (by Well Said) p, 4, 1:54.4h ($88,782) and Well Excuuuse Me (by Well Said) p,4,1:53f ($76,035).
In the third OHSS division, Ontario-owned Twinsburg used similar tactics as Queen Of The Pride to prevail for Anthony MacDonald in 1:54.4 as the public’s even-money favourite, over 6-1 rival Pappy Rocks (Chris Lems). Mach The Rock with Jeremy Smith aboard finished third at 9-1.
A daughter of McArdle, Twinsburg is trained by Jason McGinnis for Brock Obrien, and now has $21,260 in her coffers. She won a Woodbine Mohawk Park qualifier on June 9 in 2:00.4 before finishing third in 1:54.4 in a $10,500 baby race there on June 25.
Twinsburg is out of the Life Sign mare Fastidious Hanover p, 4, 1:54M ($24,286) and is a half-sister to Right Right (by Cole Muffler) p,3, 1:52.4 ($497,370), Sunken Treasure (by Somebeachsomewhere) p, 3, 1:52f ($121,330) and Someonesomewhere (by Somebeachsomewhere) p, 3, 1:56.4h ($11,538). Bred by Steve Stewart and John Carver, Twinsburg was a $12,000 purchase at the Ohio Select Yearling Sale last fall.
Another Ontario-owned filly, Lofty Beach captured the first OHSS test in a snappy 1:55 for driver Aaron Merriman. The 4-5 favourite was a wire-to-wire winner for her driver and trainer Scott McEneny, and an enthusiastic crowd greeted them in the Scioto Downs winner's circle, for owner Bradley Grant.
Mi Nina Bonita and Ronnie Wrenn Jr. were second at 9-1, while Pink Dragon, at 7-1, was third for Dan Noble. Lofty Beach is the seventh foal out of the Western Hanover mare Lofty Yankee (p, $920), making her a half-sister to: Shadow Moon (by Shadow Play) 2, 1:51.4s ($165,444), and Ontario Blue Chip (by Shadow Play) p,4,1:56.4h ($34,977), among others.
Finally, in the second OHSS division, Carmen Ohio overcame the dreaded eight-hole to win handily in 1:55.2. Steered by Ryan Stahl for trainer Brian Brown, the daughter by The Panderosa went off at 3-1 odds, besting 9-2 High Reward (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) in another gate-to-wire effort by a length, with Bad Sammie (Chris Page) back in third.
Owned by Milton Leeman (also the breeder), along with Steve Manning, Brent Meizlish and William Calvert, Carmen Ohio is out of the unraced Dragon Again mare Hufflepuff, and on June 27 won a Scioto Downs maiden in a front-stepping 1:57.1. She is a full sister to Slick Mick p,3,1:51.4f ($106,040) and has half-siblings in: Hannah Abbott (by Dave Panlone) p,3, 1:53s ($86,502), Buckeye Battle Cry (by Woodstock) 3, 1:56f ($23,297) and Olympe Maxime (by Real Desire) p,4,1:56f ($20,746).
Ohio Sires Stakes action continues on Saturday at Northfield Park with three-year-old colt pacers going postward in a pair of races featuring purses of $50,000 each.
(With files from OSDF)