The Ohio Sires Stakes nominations for two- and three-year-old trotting and pacing colts and fillies remain strong in 2019, as a healthy 1,016 nominations were received in the Ohio State Racing Commission (OSRC) office by the March 15 deadline.
Horses sired by a stallion registered with the OSRC and standing in the Buckeye State in 2019 are eligible to the lucrative Ohio Sires Stakes, which are funded by the Ohio Standardbred Development Fund (OSDF). A total of 139 stallions are currently standing at Ohio-based facilities for this year’s breeding season.
In 2019, the Ohio Sires Stakes will offer eight $300,000 Championships to be raced Sept. 1 at Northfield Park and eight $75,000 Consolations set for Sept. 7 at Scioto Downs. As well, eight $75,000 Championships will be contested at both Scioto Downs (Sept. 7) and at Northfield Park (Oct. 12) for trotters and pacers, four-year-olds and up.
A total of 620 trotting and pacing youngsters of both genders (293 fillies and 327 colts) were nominated in the two-year-old divisions, while the sophomore ranks had 369 (156 fillies and 213 colts) foals nominated.
Among freshman trotters, 175 colts were nominated this season, while in the two-year-old trotting filly division, 129 nominations were received. In the freshman pacing divisions, 152 colts and 164 fillies were nominated to the 2019 program.
Among Ohio-sired three-year-olds, 117 trotting colts and 84 trotting fillies are Ohio Sires Stakes eligible, while 96 pacing colts and 72 pacing fillies were nominated.
While the overwhelming majority of nominations came from individuals and stables residing and training in the Buckeye State, nominations were also received from Florida, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Iowa, Tennessee and Mississippi, as well as from Canada and Bermuda.
Of the 24 Ohio stallions represented in the two-year-old colt pacing division, 21 of the 152 youngsters nominated are sired by Big Bad John, 20 by Pet Rock, 19 by McArdle, 16 by Mr Wiggles, 14 by Dragon Again, 12 by Yankee Cruiser and ten by Rockin Amadeus.
In the two-year-old pacing filly ranks, the leading Ohio sires of those 164 nominees include Big Bad John with 25 nominees, followed by Dragon Again and McArdle with 19 each, Pet Rock with 17, and Mr Wiggles with 15.
Uncle Peter dominated the two-year-old diagonally-gaited colt division, with 35 of his progeny nominated. Manofmanymissions is represented by 20 nominees, while Dejarmbro has 17, Cash Hall and Triumphant Caviar 13 each, and Dontyouforgetit 12. Both Full Count and Wishing stone are represented by 10 foals each in this same division.
Among the 129 freshman trotting fillies, Uncle Peter produced 27 nominees, with Dejarmbo siring 15 and Triumphant Caviar 13.
Likewise, in the three-year-old filly trotting division of 84 nominees, Uncle Peter again reigns supreme with 16 nominees. Manofmanymissions and Dejarmbro each have eight nominees, with Break the Bank K and Wishing Stone having six foals each nominated to the program.
From the 117 sophomore colt trotters nominated, 28 are by Uncle Peter, while Wishing Stone and Manofmanymissions have 13 progeny each nominated. OSRC-registered trotting sires Dontyouforgetit and Dejarmbro are represented by ten foals each in this division.
Among the 96 side-wheeling three-year-old male nominees, 18 are sired by Pet Rock, 14 by Western Vintage, and 13 each by Dragon Again and McArdle.
Pet Rock also leads the sophomore pacing filly division, with 16 foals nominated to this year’s Ohio Sires Stakes, while Dragon Again has 11 nominees, with Big Bad John and McArdle having seven of their daughters in the 2019 program.
The first leg of the Ohio Sires Stakes for three-year-olds is less than a month away, with three-year-olds vying at Miami Valley Gaming & Racing on May 3 (trotting and pacing fillies) and May 5 (trotting and pacing colts).
(OSDF)