The $275,000 Ohio Sires Stakes Championships for two and three-year-old trotting and pacing colts and fillies is set to be the richest night ever in Ohio racing history. Eight Ohio Sires Stakes Championships, totalling $2.2 million, will head postward this Saturday (Sept. 8) at Scioto Downs.
Post time for the card will be at 6:30 p.m. (ET).
The Ohio Sires Stakes help to promote the breeding and racing of Standardbreds in the Buckeye State through its lucrative four-leg series and hefty championship purses.
As well, the Ohio Sires Stakes features $60,000 championships for veteran campaigners, four-year-olds and up (Oct. 6 at Northfield Park); and $60,000 consolation races for two- and three-year-olds (Oct. 13 at Northfield Park).
Foals are deemed eligible to the series by virtue of their sires being registered with the Ohio State Racing Commission and standing stallion duty in Ohio during year of conception.
This year, the stallion Pet Rock p, 4, 1:47 ($1,984,204) is tops in Ohio Sires Stakes money earned by two-year-old pacers with $215,600. The son of Rocknroll Hanover-Casual Beauty-Artsplace is also second in the leading sires list of three-year-old Ohio Sires Stakes earners with $194,800. Pet Rock, who stands at Midland Acres in Bloomingburg, OH, is also second among all Ohio sires of two and three-year-old pacers in the 2018 Ohio Sires Stakes legs in number of wins, with his freshmen having recorded five triumphs and his sophomores having garnered four wins.
Some of Pet Rock’s standouts in the Ohio Sires Stakes include: Rylee Roo (Leg 2 winner in 1:53.3, Leg 4 winner in 1:53.2); Rock Candy (Leg 4 winner in 1:53); Rockathon (Leg 2 winner in 1:51.4, Leg 3 winner in 1:51.4); Rockn Motion (Leg 1 winner in 1:51.1); and Gold Digger King (Leg 1 winner in 1:52.4).
Tops among sires of three-year-old pacers in Ohio Sires Stakes by earnings — with $224,800 — is the ill-fated Dragon Again, p, 5, 1:48.3s ($2,343,428) who stood at Sugar Valley Farm in Delaware, OH until his untimely death in 2017. The son of Dragons Lair-Ever And Again-Towners Big Guy was fourth in the standings among two-year-old pacers’ Ohio Sires Stakes earnings ($121,700), and first in the sire listing of three-year-old pacers by wins (six) in Ohio Sires Stakes competition. Some of Dragon Again’s top Ohio Sires Stakes contestants include: Bounding Dragon (Leg 1 winner in 1:53, Leg 3 winner in 1:51.1, Leg 4 winner in 1:51.1); Smiley Dragon (Leg 2 winner in 1:52.4, Leg 3 winner in 1:52.3); Kay Again (Leg 2 winner in 1:52.2).
Western Vintage, p, 2, 1:49.4 ($402,478), a son of Western Ideal-Major Harmony-Art Major who stands at Abby Stables in Sugarcreek, OH is the leading sire of two-year-old pacers in the Ohio Sires Stakes by number of wins, with six, including divisional leader Rose Run Ulysses (Leg 1 winner in 1:52.2, Leg 2 winner in 1:54.1, Leg 4 winner in 1:52); and Authentic Hanover (Leg 1 winner in 1:53.3, Leg 2 winner in 1:53.4). Western Vintage also sits second behind the leading Pet Rock among sires of two-year-old pacers in Ohio Sires Stakes by earnings with $147,200.
Among the Buckeye State’s trotting sires, Uncle Peter 4, 1:50.3f ($1,290,660) leads all sires of two-year-olds in Ohio Sires Stakes in earnings ($220,800) and he’s also tied for first in wins (six) with the Conway Hall-B Cor Tamgo-A Go Go Lauxmont stallion Broadway Hall 2, 1:56.4 ($436,790).
Uncle Peter, a son of Cantab Hall-Victory Treasure-Enjoy Lavec, stands at Hickory Lane Farm in Findlay, OH with his first offspring starting as freshman this season. Some of his top Ohio Sire Stakes winners include: Aunt Rose (Leg 1 winner in 1:59.1, Leg 2 winner in 1:59); Never Say Uncle (Leg 2 winner in 1:58.4); Oh So Pine (Leg 1 winner in 2:01.3); and Peter Trottintail (Leg 3 winner in 1:59.4).
In the three-year-old ranks, My MVP 3, 1:52 ($879,804) leads all sires in both Ohio Sires Stakes earnings ($188,550) and wins (six). This son of Cantab Hall-Exceed Expectation-Kadabra stands at Sugar Valley Farm, Delaware, OH and his top Ohio Sires Stakes performers include: Non Smoker (Leg 1 winner in 1:54, Leg 2 winner in 1:56.2, Leg 3 winner in 1:55.1); Spunky Bottom Girl (Leg 2 winner in 1:55.4, Leg 2 winner in 1:54.2); and Rising MVP (Leg 2 winner in 1:56.2).
(OSDF)