Five Ohio Sires Stakes divisions of juvenile fillies will line up behind the Northfield Park starting gate on Friday night (August 7).
Two $50,000 divisions for pacing fillies and three $40,000 divisions for trotting fillies are slated to head postward in round three of the four-leg series.
Northfield's first race is scheduled to head to post at 6 p.m. (ET).
Sixteen sires stakes-eligible pacing fillies passed the Northfield Park entry box, with those events slated as Race 1 and 3.
In the first pacing division, a trio of previous winners return to wage war, including the Ron Burke-trained Summer Touch, who was second in Leg One to the winning Lady Arthur in 1:53.2, and then captured Leg Two in 1:53.4. Owned by Burke Racing, Knox Services, Slaughter Racing and Weaver Bruscemi, the homebred daughter of Well Said out of the Real Desire mare Real Touch has amassed $55,000 thus far in her brief career. She will start from Post 5 with Chris Page in the driver’s seat.
The aforementioned Lady Arthur drew the eight-hole for trainer Dr. Ian Moore and driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr. Owned by Dr. Moore in partnership with the RG McGroup and Serge Savard, the daughter of Arthur Blue Chip-April Three was third in Leg Two, beaten only a length, after winning Leg One in 1:53.2. The homebred lass has $52,188 in her coffers from two wins, a second and a third in four career starts.
Leg Two winner (1:54.1) Rainy Day Chic will start from Post 4 in the same division for driver Brett Miller, trainer Dan O’Mara and owner-breeder Marjorie Polhamus. A winner of $31,781 lifetime, Rainy Day Chic is by Rockin Amadeus and out of the Always A Virgin mare Fritzie Chic.
Sentimental heads up the second pacing division despite drawing the eight-hole for driver Tyler Smith and trainer John Ackley. Bred by Marvin Raber, the daughter of The Panderosa is out of the Nobleland Sam mare Downwyn Kate, and is unbeaten thus far in the sires stakes series, having posted a 1:56.1 triumph in Leg One and a 1:53.2 victory in Leg Two. Owned by the CT Stables, LLC, Sentimental sports career earnings of $43,750.
Fierce rival Winella Hanover drew the rail for driver Chris Page and trainer Ron Burke. The Racing Hill-Western Duel lass won Leg One in 1:54.4, but was a disappointing sixth in Leg Two for owners Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi, J. Melillo and J&T Silva-Purnel&Libby. Bred by Hanover Shoe Farms, Winella Hanover has $97,800 in her bankroll.
Sentimental is the current leader in the sires stakes two-year-old pacing filly division through the first two legs with 102 points; followed by Summer Touch and Leave Her Wild, who are tied for second with 77 points each; followed by Lady Arthur with 65 points; Winella Hanover with 52 points and Rainy Day Chic with 51 points.
The Ron Burke trainee Merry Ann heads up the first of the three sires stakes contests for trotting fillies (Race 2) from Post 5 with Chris Page driving. Owned by Burke Racing, Knox Services and Weaver Bruscemi, the daughter of Southwind Spirit-Witty Girl finished second in Leg One in 1:58.2 before winning Leg Two in a career best 1:57.4. The homebred Merry Ann now has two wins and a pair of second-place finishes with $55,200 in career earnings.
A Doll Face, who will start from Post 7 in the same division, won Leg One in 1:59.4 then finished second to Merry Ann in Leg Two for trainer-driver Kayne Kauffman and owner Doug Millard. Bred by Spring Haven Farm, A Doll Face is by Dontyouforgetit, out of the Muscle Massive mare Alliomi and has $33,704 in her bank account.
Swizzle Hanover is the clear standout in the second sires stakes trotting division (Race 4), having won Leg One in 1:57.1 and Leg Two in 1:57.4. The daughter of Uncle Peter-Seducedbychocolate was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms and is owned by trainer Randy Bendis and Reed Broadway. From three career starts, Swizzle Hanover has two wins and a second and will start from Post 2 with Mike Wilder at the controls.
Herculisa is an undefeated daughter by My MVP owned by the Jesemeral Stable and will start from Post 5 in the third sires stakes trotting test (Race 6). Out of the Andover Hall mare Herculotte, the bay filly won Leg One in 1:58.1 and Leg Two in 1:56.2. Bred by Joe McLead, Billy Walters and Up Front Racing, Herculisa has amassed earnings of $41,812 thus far.
Trainer Marty Wollam harnesses Celebrate With Me in the same division from Post 8. Kurt Sugg drives the coal black duaghter of Full Count-Glisten Hanover for trainer Wollam, who ownes her in partnership with Toni Dean. Bred by Marvin Raber, Celebrate With Me has $48,622 in career earnings from two wins and two thirds from four starts. She was third in Leg One to Swizzle Hanover and captured Leg Two in a lifetime mark of 1:56.4.
Swizzle Hanover and Herculisa are tied for first place in the sires stakes two-year-old filly division standings, with 102 points each, followed by A Doll Face and Merry Ann who are tied for second with 77 points each. Celebrate With Me has 64 points with Chip It In next with 57 points, followed by More Spirit and Magic Credit Card with 52 points each.
(OSDF)