Heart Of Chewbacca captured the first of two $50,000 Ohio Sires Stakes (OHSS) for two-year-old pacing colts on Saturday night (Aug. 8) at Scioto Downs.
The Ron Burke trainee took the lead from the start for driver Danny Noble and never looked back, flying through fractions of :26.3, :55.1 and 1:23.1 before unleashing a :28 final kick to score his third lifetime win in a blistering 1:51.1 (equalling the track record and setting a national seasons mark for a two-year-old pacing colt on a five-eighths mile oval).
The striking black colt by Bring On The Beach-Jts Chewbacca-Four Starzzz Shark is owned by Dennis Owens and Norman Rae Racing and left the gate as the 1-9 favourite. Bred by Spring Haven Farm, Heart Of Chewbacca now has $64,375 in career earnings.
The gutsy Im Sorry Man was second at 8-1 for Kayne Kauffman, while another Burke trainee, the 23-1 longshot Barnard Hanover, grabbed show honours with Chris Page driving.
Hardt At Work and driver-trainer Mike Micallef got the best of 4-5 favourite Charlie May in the second OHSS contest, clocked in a lifetime mark of 1:52.2. Charlie May had led at nearly every step of the mile, but in the final strides Hardt At Work snuck up the inside to best his rival handily. Four-Star Flash, a 35-1 longshot, was third for Ronnie Wrenn, Jr.
Owned by Brett Boyd Racing and Anthony Formosa, the son of Manhardt-River Bend Raider-Keystone Raider picked up career victory three in his fifth start. Bred by Gene L. Miller, Hardt At Work now has $65,500 in his bankroll. The brown gelding captured Leg One in 1:55.1 before finishing second in Leg Two to Charlie May.
(Ohio Sires Stakes)