Seventy-two Standardbreds will line up behind the Scioto Downs starting gate on Saturday night, Sept. 8 in eight $275,000 Ohio Sires Stakes Championships, featuring the best two- and three-year-old trotting and pacing colts and fillies in the Buckeye State.
First race post time for the 14-race card, which features combined purses of more than $2.5 million, is set at 6:30 pm, ET.
Trotting stallions represented in the four, diagonally-gaited contests include Manofmanymissions, with five progeny scheduled to compete, along with Uncle Peter and My MVP, who are represented by four foals each.
Ohio-based trotting sires (at time of conception) with three youngsters each racing include: Break The Bank K, Broadway Hall, Cash Hall, Stormin Normand, Triumphant Caviar and Wishing Stone. The stallions Dejarmbro and Full Count each have two foals racing, while Southwind Spirit has one.
Pacing stallions who are represented in the four laterally-gaited divisions include Pet Rock, who has eight of his youngsters following the starting gate, along with Dragon Again and McArdle who have four foals each racing.
The Ohio-registered pacing sires Big Bad John and Yankee Cruiser have three of their progeny in these events, while The Panderosa and Western Vintage both have two youngsters going postward. Believeinbruiser, Im Gorgeous, Nob Hill High, Rockin Amadeus, Shark Gesture, We Will See, Woodstock and World Of Rocknroll are all Ohio stallions represented by one son or daughter in these Ohio Sires Stakes.
Drivers who have participated in the Ohio Sires Stakes will also be competing in the Championships. To date Ronnie Wrenn, Jr., leads all drivers in these events, with 18 wins, 13 seconds and eight third in 80 starts, good for $607,850 in purses. Close on his heels in second are two of the state’s leading reinsmen: Aaron Merrman, whose Ohio Sires Stakes mounts have garnered $569,900 from 15 wins, 13 seconds and 12 thirds in 81 trips postward; and Danny Noble, who also has 15 wins, along with four seconds and ten thirds in 58 drives, with $454,550 in Ohio Sires Stakes earnings.
Chris Page isn’t far behind, having amassed $434,100 in earnings from 75 starts, with nine wins, 15 seconds and nine thirds. Ryan Stahl’s charges have earned $275,900 in Ohio Sires Stakes purses from seven wins, six seconds and seven thirds in 46 starts, while Tyler Smith has amassed $241,100 from five wins, five seconds and seven thirds in 50 Ohio Sires Stakes starts.
Canadian reinsman Anthony MacDonald has garnered $179,600 in earnings from six Ohio Sires Stakes winners, four-second place and three third-place finishers in 18 starts, while Pennsylvania-based driver Tony Hall has five wins, two seconds and two thirds from 40 starts and $173,700. Finally, driver Kayne Kauffman is the ninth driver to have Ohio Sires Stakes earnings over $100,000, as from 35 starts he’s posted two wins, seven seconds and a trio of thirds for $156,300.
(OSDF)