Trainer Brian Brown and driver Ronnie Wrenn, Jr., teamed up to capture three Ohio Sires Stakes winners at Northfield Park on Monday night with several of Brown’s two-year-old pacing trainees finishing second and third as well.
Final Offer, a Rockin Amadeus filly, didn’t disappoint as the 4-5 favourite for owners Country Club Acres, AWS Stables and Joe Sbrocco, scoring as the 4-5 favourite in 1:55 in the first of two $50,000 divisions. The bay filly picked up her second consecutive victory in the sires stakes series, having won leg three on Aug. 10 in 1:55.2 at Scioto Downs. This latest victory pushed her earnings to $61,300 as she bested 35-1 longshot Bad Sammie (Tony Hall) and third-place finisher, 5-1 Snobbytown (Tyler Smith).
Brown then bridled up Rock Candy, the 1-5 favourite in the first $40,000 colt division for Country Club Acres, Joe Sbrocco and Richard Lombardo, as the Pet Rock gelding stormed to a 1:53 clocking. This winner of $68,400 lifetime bested stablemate, 3-1 Dislocator (Chris Page) and 5-1 Van Diesel (Trevor Smith). Rock Candy had finished second in all three previous sires stakes legs.
Brown then sent out Smackitwithahammer, who prevailed in the late going over the hard-trying 4-1 choice Tony Too Tall (Ryan Stahl) in 1:52.3 in the third sires stakes colt contest. The Mcardle gelding is owned by Country Club Acres, Joe Sbrocco and the W. J. Robinson Estate. It was the first victory in the sires stakes series for Smackitwithahammer, who left the gate at 6-5 odds, upping his career earnings to $39,000. Eastondowntheroad was a smart third for driver Trace Tetrick at 6-1.
In the second $50,000 filly division, Rylee Roo claimed first-place honours with Aaron Merriman at the helm in a new track record time of 1:53.2. The 8-5 Pet Rock lass, who is conditioned by Steve Carter for Steven Price of Sandy Springs, GA, had captured leg two in a track record time of 1:53.3 on July 17. She easily bested 4-5 Rose Run Uptowngal (Chris Page), with 16-1 Carmen Ohio (Ryan Stahl) notching third-place honours. Rylee Roo now has $74,375 in her coffers from two wins and two seconds in five lifetime starts.
In perhaps the most competitive race of the night, Rose Run Ulysses put forth an extraordinary effort, outpacing his rivals impressively in 1:52 as the 4-1 choice. Trace Tetrick was behind the greyhound-like chestnut son of Western Vintage, who gamely held off 6-1 Yankee Boots (Aaron Merriman) and 2-5 previously undefeated favourite High On Paydaze (Chris Page) at the wire. Trained and co-owned by Kimberly Daily and Carl & Melanie Atley of Xenia, Ohio, Rose Run Ulysses pushed his bankroll to $83,200 with his fourth victory in five lifetime starts.
The following nine colts have qualified for the $275,000 Championship on Sept. 8 at Scioto Downs, via their points earned in the four legs of this sires stakes series: Rose Run Ulysses (166); High On Paydaze (166); Rock Candy (129); Dislocator (116); Authentic Hanover (112); See You In Tuscany (103); Gold Digger King (91); Smackitwithahammer (89); and Tony Too Tall (66).
Here are the nine two-year-old sires stakes-eligible pacing fillies who are eligible for the $275,000 Championship: Rylee Roo (129); Carmen Ohio (116); Final Offer (112); Queen Of The Pride (103); High Reward (95); Sugar And Spite (83); Twinsburg (78); Rose Run Uptowngal (78); and Mi Nina Bonita (64).
The fourth and final leg of Ohio Sires Stakes for two-year-old trotting colts and fillies will be contested Aug. 28 at Scioto Downs, with a matinee post time of 2 p.m.
(OSDF)