Heart Of Chewbacca, the 1-2 Ron Burke-trained favourite, stormed to a 1:50.4 clocking in the first division of Ohio Sires Stakes (OHSS) at Northfield Park on Saturday (July 31), tying the national season’s record for his gait and sex.
The son of Bring On The Beach nailed his second win in OHSS competition, having captured leg one in 1:51.2 for owners Dennis Owens and Norman Rae Racing.
Heart Of Chewbacca bested 17-1 rival Cyclone Union Jack, with 5-2 Hardt At Work finishing third. The winner was bred by Spring Haven Farm and now has 10 wins and four seconds in 16 starts, with $313,848 earned. Heart Of Chewbacca is the second foal out of his dam, the Four Starzzz Shark mare JTs Chewbacca (p, 3, 1:53.1f [$32,220]).
Charlie May also tied the national season’s record for a three-year-old pacing gelding on a half-mile track with his 1:50.4 clocking in the second OHSS division. Driven by Brett Miller for trainer Steve Carter and owner-breeder Don Tiger, the brown son by McArdle notched his 10th victory, upping his earnings to $548,127.
Charlie May had captured OHSS leg two in a swift 1:49.3 at Scioto Downs after finishing fourth in leg one in early May at Miami Valley.
Odds On Shaggy, the 9-1 choice, who was making his first start in an OHSS contest, was second for Kurt Sugg, with 25-1 KB Mac third for Hunter Myers.
Charlie May is the seventh and highest-earning foal out of his Western Hanover dam, the unraced Stipple Hanover, and is a half-brother to the two-year-old pacing colt and OHSS contender Shane Falco (by Racing Hill) (p, 2, 1:56.1h [$21,710]), who is also owned and was bred by Tiger.
(Ohio Sires Stakes)