Can B Perfect was just that—cruising to a Scioto Downs track record clocking of 1:51.2 in the first of three $40,000 Ohio Sires Stakes (OHSS) for two-year-old pacing colts on Saturday, Aug. 17.
The son of big Bad John stormed home free and clear of his rivals, finishing nearly six lengths ahead of 7-2 Opportune Hanover while 6-5 Stanford Court grabbed third-place money.
“Tim [Lane, the trainer] changed his rig around and it helped,” winning driver Tyler Smith said. “There doesn’t seem to be much end to this horse and I think he has a good shot in the Championship.”
Can Be Perfect, a homebred owned by James Stambaugh and trainer Tim Lane, was sent at odds of 4-5 and now has $65,525 in career earnings from three wins and two seconds in five starts. He is the 14th foal out of the Beach Towel mare Perfect Gesture p, 5, 1:52.4f ($264,434) and is a half-brother to: Dave Panlone (by The Panderosa) p, 3, 1:49.2 ($831,874); Long Live Rock (by Rocknroll Hanover) p, 8, 1:50f ($617,085); Perfect Panderosa (by The Panderosa) p, 5, 1:49.4 ($243,827); Urban Renewal (by Cam’s Card Shark) p, 5, 1:51.1 ($225,206); and Sweater Vest p, 5, 1:54f ($114, 218), among others.
The second OHSS division went to 6-5 Ocean Rock and driver-trainer Dan Noble, who steered the son of Rockin Amadeus to a 1:52.1 clocking for owner-breeder Sandra Burnett.
This homebred youngster—the first foal out of the On The Attack mare Ocean Pearl p, 5, 1:53.2f ($143,637)—was sixth in the second OHSS preliminary before scoring victories in his last two outings.
“I took him to a fair and made some changes on him, and that day [at Washington Court House on July 21] was the first time he felt comfortable on the track,” Noble said. “This is the first colt that has hurt me in the barn; he’s a handful but I think he’s one of the top three horses in this division.”
Ocean Rock used front-stepping tactics to finish one-and-a-half lengths in front of 5-2 Rockntheafterparty with 11-1 One Rock notching third-place honours for driver Brett Miller. He now has $58,167 in career earnings from four wins and one second in six starts.
Last but not least, trainer Ronnie Burke harnessed Elver Hanover to a 1:53.2 win for Burke Racing, B. Jablonsky, J. Melillo, J&T Silva-Purnel&Libby.
Steered by Chris Page, the son of Yankee Cruiser was on the front end throughout most of the mile, finishing one-and-a-half lengths in front of 3-1 Gray Dragon with 6-1 Mr Ds Rock getting up for third. The win marked the bay gelding’s fourth in as many lifetime starts and upped his bankroll to an impressive $86,500.
Another product of the mighty Hanover Shoe Farms empire, Elver Hanover is the seventh foal out of The Panderosa mare Edra Hanover p, 2, 1:51 ($171,753). A $50,000 yearling purchase at the Ohio Select Sale, he is a half-brother to Eddard Hanover (by Dragon Again) p, 5, 1:49.3 ($508,397) and East Side Hanover (by Somebeachsomewhere) p, 3, 1:51 ($63,801), among others.
(Ohio Sires Stakes)