Ohio-bred two-year-olds will make their first foray into Ohio Sires Stakes competition this weekend, with eight divisions on Friday night at Scioto Downs and nine divisions at Northfield Park on Saturday evening.
From 160 nominations, 38 freshmen colt trotters will line up behind the Scioto starting gate in four $40,000 divisions, while 40 freshmen filly trotters from a total of 164 nominees will go postward in a quartet of $40,000 divisions that same evening.
The clear standout among the two-year-old diagonally gaited colts is the Per Engblom-conditioned Chulo, a bay son of What The Hill, out of the Majestic Son mare Chula. This youngster, who was bred by Renee Spahr and who is leased by Buckstone Land Livestock of York, PA, captured a $150,000 Next Generation Trot on July 2 at Scioto in 1:57. He will start from post three in the fourth OSS division (Race 11) with Ronnie Wrenn, Jr., at the lines.
Another colt to watch is No Edge Lines, a son of Long Tom conditioned by Mike Polhamus for owners Constance Polhamus and Mary Beth Walters. Bred by Franklin Farms, No Edge Lines won his Scioto Downs debut on June 30 handily in 1:57.1 with Kayne Kauffman at the lines. He drives again from post one in the third division (Race 7).
Bamboo is a Christi Noble trainee, a song of Long Tom owned by breeder Walter Fister, along with partners Owens & Homan, J. Morris, and Norman Rae Racing. This bay colt will be making his pari-mutuel debut from post five in the second division (Race 3) for driver Danny Noble after scoring a 1:57.2 winning qualifier by 22¼ lengths at Scioto on June 28.
Heading up the freshman filly division is Be My Baby Now, a daughter of What The Hill who is trained by Ronnie Burke for Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi , Knox Services and Hatfield Stables. This speedy miss captured a $150,000 Next Generation Trot on July 2 at Scioto in 1:57.4 with Chris Page at the controls. Page drives again from post four in the third division (Race 8) on Friday night.
On Saturday night at Northfield Park, a total of 39 pacing fillies will vie in five $40,000 OSS divisions, from 210 nominations, while 31 laterally gaited colts will race in four $40,000 OSS divisions from 223 nominees.
One of the top pacing fillies to date in this division is Sea Silk, a daughter of Downbytheseaside-Silk Purse-Bettor’s Delight. This Ron Burke trainee captured a $150,000 Next Generation Pace on July 3 with Chris Page driving, clocked in 1:51.3. Bred by Steiner Stock Farm and owned by Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi, Knox Services and Hatfield Stables, Sea Silk leaves from post two with Page aboard in the fifth OSS division (Race 11).
Among the pacing colts, Sling Shock vies for trainer Christi Noble and driver Danny Noble, who piloted the son of Downbytheseaside to a 1:52.4 clocking in a $150,000 Next Generation Pace on July 3 at Scioto Downs. This winner of $75,000 lifetime is owned by M. Cimaglio, W. Richardson, W. Salmeri, and R. Gilmartin. He will start from post five in OSS division one (Race 2).
(OSDF)