A trio of $40,000 Ohio Sires Stakes divisions for sophomore pacing fillies were contested Saturday, August 20 at Northfield Park, with each of the three miles clocked in 1:54.3.
Despite the balmy night, which was pitted with intermittent, light rain showers, a generous crowd was on hand to see some of the Buckeye State’s finest distaffs compete.
That winning time of 1:54.3 was the one common denominator between the three victorious fillies, each of whom is vying for a starting berth in the $250,000 Championship, set for September 3 at Ohio’s “home of the flying turns.” This was the fourth leg of the series prior to eight Super Night Championships for two and three-year-old colts and fillies of both the trotting and pacing gaits.
Trainer Brenda Teague’s Miss Me Yet rebounded at just the right time off several sub-par efforts to take the first OHSS division handily, besting her rivals by two and a quarter lengths. The daughter of Im Gorgeous used a :28.1 final brush to post her third win of the season for driver Randy Tharps at odds of 6-1. Favourite Clarebear finished second (Peter Wrenn) while Johnsbadgirl (Aaron Merriman) got up for third. The victory pushed Miss Me Yet’s career earnings to $246,985 for owners George Teague of Harrington, Deleware and the Teague Racing Partnership of Boyton Beach, Florida. This filly had also won her previous OHSS test on July 2 at Scioto Downs in a lifetime-best 1:53.2.
Favourite NPR Nine picked up her first OHSS victory in the second division with Ronnie Wrenn Jr. at the lines for trainer Ron Potter and owner/breeder Dan Russo of Westerville, Ohio. This daughter of Big Bad John paced her final quarter in :29.1 to best rival Jakes Chance (Jason Merriman) by one and three-quarter lengths with favourite Queen Ann M notching third for Chris Page. The win, NPR Nine’s second of the year in 13 starts, upped her seasonal earnings to $48,415 and her career bankroll to $81,239.
My Tweed Heart didn’t disappoint her backers, capturing the third OHSS division easily for driver Josh Sutton with a :28.4 final brush. The Manhardt lass is trained by Bill Dailey for Carl and Melanie Atley of Xenia, Ohio and Alan Keith of Pataskala, Ohio, and upped her career earnings to $248,134 with her eighth win of the season in 11 starts. Save My Tootsie (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) held on for second after leading throughout most of the mile while Feeling Red Hot (Kayne Kauffman) got up for third. My Tweed Heart now sits atop this division with 178 and will be the likely favourite in the Championship.
(With files from OSDF)