Tempting Flames, 11 days removed from her world-record-equalling performance, charged home to win her fifth straight stakes event in the second $104,167 Ohio Sires Stakes (OHSS) two-year-old filly pace division on Saturday, Aug. 29 at Eldorado Scioto Downs.
Tempting Flames took a newer approach, sitting in the middle of the pack for David Miller as Thought I Had It (Trevor Smith) led the field through :26.3, :56.2 and 1:25 fractions. Tempting Flames got away fourth from post seven and made a swift three-wide move at the three-quarter pole to take the lead mid-way through the last turn, and she posted a :26.3 last quarter to draw clear by 3-1/2 lengths over Thought I Had It in 1:52.1. Moni N The Safe (Brett Miller) was third.
Tempting Flames, by Catch The Fire out of the Mcardle mare Hotshot Temptress, was bred by Ivy Holdings. Her 1:50 mile last out tied the world record for a two-year-old pacing filly on a five-eighths-mile track. Owned by William Hartt and trained by Michael Hitchcock, the filly now has five wins in seven starts and $319,820 in earnings. She paid $2.10 to win.
OHSS action accounted for nearly half of the 16-race Saturday card, and trainer Ron Burke took two divisions as part of an overall triple.
Burke's first win came in the other rookie pacing filly contest. Cleveland Darby (Chris Page) was parked through the :26.4 opening quarter but made the lead shortly thereafter and led through fractions of :55.3 and 1:24.2. Miki Grad (Brett Miller) closed from the back to get within a quarter-length of the winner while finishing second in the 1:52.2 mile. Jar Of Hearts (Ronnie Gillespie) made a bid down the backside but finished third.
Cleveland Darby ($3), by Downbytheseaside out of the Mcardle mare Loreenas Ruffian, was bred by Carl Howard and is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, R A S Racing LLC and Larry Karr. The Burke trainee now has four wins in seven starts and $219,418 in earnings.
When Is Parade took the fastest of three $69,444 colt pace splits in a 32-1 upset, winning in 1:49 for Ronnie Wrenn Jr. and Burke. Odds On Rpj (Luke Hanners) set fractions from the rail of :26, :54.1 and 1:21 while When Is Parade looked on after settling fifth from post seven. Shooting up the passing lane, When Is Parade won by a length over pocket-sitter Prolific Blend (Austin Hanners). Odds On Rpj was third.
When Is Parade ($66.20), by Summa Cum Laude out of the Sweet Lou mare West End Pip, is a homebred for Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Michelle Yanek and Phillip Collura. With four wins in 22 lifetime starts, When Is Parade now has $265,288 in earnings.
Burke also won with Sum Kind Of Fire ($7.20) in a conditioned pace to complete the triple. Burke leads all trainers in North America with 677 wins this year.
Tsunami Seas, driven by David Miller, took the other sub-1:50 sophomore male pace, winning his division by 3-1/4 lengths in 1:49.4. Getting away third and parked from post four, Tsunami Seas marched his way to the front after Backninebar (Chris Page) took the field to the :27.2 opening quarter. Tsunami Seas then led through fractions of :56 and 1:22.4 to defeat Backninebar. Rock Son (Brett Miller) was third.
Tsunami Seas ($2.60), by the Downbytheseaside out of the Riggins mare Foxy Rigger, was bred by Country Club Acres Inc. and L & H Management Services. Trained by Virgil Morgan Jr. for owners Jeffrey Rector, Larry Wills and Hutchison Harness LLC, Tsunami Seas now has six wins in 18 lifetime starts and $182,192 in earnings.
The last male three-year-old pace division went to Pet Project (Trevor Smith), who got the pocket trip behind fraction-setter Starblazer (Luke Hanners) through fractions of :27.3, :56.3 and 1:24.4. After interference right near the finish line, judges placed Pet Project first with a clocking of 1:51.4. Starblazer was dropped to second with Thunder Nation (David Miller) third.
Pet Project ($3.60), by Pet Rock out of the Feelin Friskie mare Igottafeelinfran, was bred by Jerry Zosel, Kathy Ratcliff and trainer Kim Dailey and is owned by Dailey and JR Stable LLP. Pet Project now has seven wins in 17 lifetime starts and $329,409 in earnings.
Jett James, in line to Brett Miller, made it three OHSS wins in a row when he took his $104,167 division for two-year-old pacing males by 1-1/2 lengths over North Rim (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) in 1:51.2. After getting away fourth from post four as Into The Blaze (Ronnie Gillespie) took the field towards the :27.1 opening quarter, Jett James quickly pulled and set the remaining fractions of :56.1 and 1:24.3. North Rim briefly made the front after the quarter and settled for the pocket trip but could not reach the winner in the stretch. Into The Blaze was third.
Jett James ($2.10), by Monte Miki out of the Western Ideal mare Albrizzi Hanover, is owned by trainer Adam Short. The gelding, bred by Jacob Mossbarger, now has five wins in eight starts and $214,248 in earnings.
Night Surfer took his rookie colt pace division in gate-to-wire fashion, leading the field through :26.4, :56.3 and 1:26.3 splits. He sprinted home in :27.1 to win by 1-3/4 lengths over pocket-sitter Donttruckwithme (Chris Lems). The Might Brix (Tyler Smith) got up for third.
Night Surfer ($2.80), by Downbytheseaside out of the Bettors Delight mare Dark Force, was bred by KAD Farms. Owned by Let It Ride Stables Inc., Morrison Racing Stables and Steven Held, Night Surfer has a perfect record of four wins from as many starts, with earnings of $214,453.
(With files from Scioto Downs)