Three new track records were set at Northfield Park on Friday night, August 21 in Ohio Sires Stakes competition. Fifteen, $40,000 divisions featuring Buckeye-bred two-year-old colts and fillies of both gaits were contested.
Standout trotting colt Kanthaka made it five-for-five en route to a track record clocking for two-year-old trotting colts of 1:57.1 — lowering his own standard that he set on July 24 in the second leg of this series. Were Gone (Dan Noble) was second, with Fantasy League (Ronnie Wrenn, Jr.) was third.
“He’s a perfect horse to drive and has done everything right since day one,” said winning driver Dave Palone. “It’s nice to see the offspring of Triumphant Caviar doing so well here in Ohio.”
Trainer and co-owner Chris Beaver harnessed the Triumphant Caviar colt, who now has $85,250 in his career coffers for partner Wilbur Lang, who also bred the youngster.
Kanthaka won his previous sires stakes tests on July 4 at Scioto Downs by nearly eight lengths in 1:58.3 and on July 24 at Northfield in 1:58 triumph.
Save My Tootsie, a daughter of Big Bad John-Save My Life-Life Sign, set a new track record of 1:54.4 for pacing fillies — besting the previous record of 1:55.2 set by CC Spice in 2002. Trained by Ron Potter for owner Clyde Perfect of Lawrenceburg, Indiana, Save My Tootsie was bred by Spring Haven Farm.
Driven by Aaron Merriman, the black filly pushed her lifetime earnings to $35,935 in her first career victory in five starts. Johns Sunny Girl (Greg Grismore) finished second while Upfortydevensgirl (Brady Galliers) nailed down show honours.
Friskie Cruiser notched his third career triumph in a track record clocking of 1:54 for a freshman pacing gelding, with driver Ryan Stahl at the lines. This son of Feelin Friskie is owned and was bred by Stephen Sexton of Xenia, Ohio and pushed his lifetime earnings to $64,398 with the win, the third of his career in four starts.
“This is an exceptionally nice colt,” Stahl noted. “There doesn’t seem to be an end to his speed.”
Friskie Cruiser finished well within himself for trainer Brian Brown, besting rivals Gotmoneyinmypocket (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) and Mr Wiggle Patns (Kayne Kauffman).
Kestrel and driver Aaron Merriman didn’t disappoint their backers, going wire-to-wire in 1:58.2. Trained and co-owned by Chris Beaver for breeder and partner Wilbur Lang, the daughter of Triumphant Caviar-Blackrock-Credit Winner scored her fourth win in as many tries in easy fashion.
“She’s been amazing and has done everything we’ve asked of her,” Merriman stressed. “She zipped home in :28, and there’s no bottom to her. Chris just has so many nice horses right now.”
Kestrel upped her career earnings to $90,000, with Oneeyedmomma (Kurt Sugg) second and A TC Queenie (Ken Holiday) in third.
The trotting filly Consolidator made her third pari-mutuel start a winning one, stopping the clock in 1:58.3 for driver Chris Page. The daughter of Triumphant Caviar-Muscle Toy-Muscles Yankee was bred by Rose Run Farm and is owned by John Green of Canfield, Ohio.
“She’s definitely one of the best Ohio-breds I’ve ever owned,” remarked Green. “I’ve been with Jim [trainer Arledge] now for nine years, and it’s been a good deal, we’ve had a lot of success.”
Green, who has been an owner for more than three decades, also owns Thoroughbred racehorses and steeplechasers. Consolidator now has $30,616 after beating rivals Count On Kami (Kurt Sugg) and Bellesvictoryring (John Konesky III) for the top prize money.
Breeder/owner Sandra Burnett was overjoyed when her two-year-old trotting filly Evanora bested eight rivals handily in 1:59.2. Steered by Ronnie Wrenn Jr., the daughter of Pilgrims Tag-Nessa Rose-Chip Chip Hooray nailed down career victory three in five starts for her 81-year-old, Wilmington, Ohio owner.
“This filly has been through a lot lately,” Burnett said. “She was in a paddock and stepped on a hornet’s nest, which really messed her up for a while. She’s had her share of troubles since then and this is the first time she’s been back to her old self.”
Trained by Chris Beaver, Evanora now has $41,550 I career earnings. Taj For All (Peter Wrenn) was second in this event, while Emotional Blast (Ammon Hershberger) got up for third.
As expected, MJB Got Faith left little doubt to his dominance, as he scored his third career win in as many starts. Peter Wrenn drove the youngster to a 2:00 career-best clocking for trainer Steve Carter. The Next Triumph (Ken Holiday) was second with Deep Question (Chris Page) finishing third.
A winner of $60,000 lifetime, MJB Got Faith was bred by the GBW Breeding Farms, Inc., of Findlay, Ohio and is owned by Breana Carsey of Connersville, Indiana.
Miss Me Yet got up in the final strides to nail down career win two for driver Montrell Teague and trainer Brenda Teague. The daughter of Im Gorgeous-Live Inspired-Western Hanover was timed in 1:56.2, besting Kacys Coop (Josh Sutton) and Its Your Fantasy (Dan Noble).
Miss Me Yet is owned by George Teague Jr. of Harrington, Delaware and was bred by Teague Jr. and partner Fanning Racing. She now has $48,800 in career earnings.
Lionbacker Kidd, a Lionhunter gelding, went wire-to-wire for driver Ronnie Wrenn, Jr. and trainer Joseph Kramp, timed in 2:00.3. Bred by John Miller of Wooster, OH, Lionbacker Kidds is owned by Jeffrey Kidd of Hartville, OH, and has $54,873 in career earnings. Chip OR Don (Tye Loy) was second while Emerald Chip (Josh Sutton) finished third.
Primo Giovanni and driver Chris Page made it five-for-five with a resounding, come-from-behind, 1:55.1 victory against eight pacing rivals. The son of Big Bad John-JK Reunited-Bettors Delight was bred and is owned by Carl T. Howard of Powell, Ohio and hails from the powerful Virgil Morgan Jr. stable. He now has $87,575 in career earnings.
This was Primo Giovanni’s third sires stakes win. He has back-to-back sires stakes wins — on July 24 at Northfield (1:55.2) and on July 4 at Scioto (1:56.2). Nothin Fancy (Kyle Ater) was second, with World Of Gaming (Dan Noble) third.
My Tweed Heart, a daughter of Manhardt-Tweedle D-Towners Big Guy won her division easily in 1:55.1 for driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr. The bay filly was harnessed by Jim Daily for owner Carl Atley of Xenia, Ohio. My Tweed Heart was bred by Stanley Swango III of Florida.
Mickey Moose prevailed easily in 1:57.3 with his trainer, Kurt Sugg in the sulky
This son of Triumphant Caviar-Chippedinstrawberry-Chip Chip Hooray nailed down career win four (from eight tries). Bred by Richard Mairs and Shari Starner, Mickey Moose now has $37,554 in his career coffers. She is owned by Dean Davis of Wooster, Ohio and Ashley Dunn of Polk, Ohio. D Count (Greg Grismore) finished second with Another Breath (Hugh Beatty) in third.
Rocknroll Wildcats and Aaron Merriman bested a field of nine pacers to win in 1:54.1. The won of World Of Rocknroll was harnessed by George Anthrop for Toman Enterprises of Battle Creek, Michigan and was bred by Mark Marroletti of Florida. Prince Giovanni (Josh Sutton) was second, while UF Whosurdarlinboy (Brady Galliers) finished third. He now has $31,475 in career earnings.
Queen Ann M captured her division in 1:55.2 for driver Chris Page and trainer Mike Roth. This daughter of Big Bad John-Full Fledged-Grinfromeartoear pushed her career earnings to $71,125 with the win, the third of her career in four starts for Alan Keith of Pataskala, Ohio. Jay Mossbarger bred Queen Ann M, who bested Feelin Lilly (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) and NPR Nine (Aaron Merriman).
Longshot Whataboy and driver Chris Page won the final sires stakes division of the night, scoring in 1:54.3. The son of Big Bad John is trained by Virgil Morgan for Majs Ny Inc., Gerrie Tucker and RBH Ventures, and pushed his career earnings to $37,113 with his first lifetime victory. Whataboy, who was bred by the Dm Stables LLC of Florida, saw Whiskey Friskie (Aaron Merriman) finish second, while Standing Proud (Kayen Kauffman) got up for third.
(With files from OSRC)