Columbus, OH — Can B Perfect (Big Bad John-Perfect Gesture) was just that—cruising to a new Scioto Downs track records clocking of 1:51.2 in the first of three $40,000 Ohio Sires Stakes for 2-year-old pacing colts on a balmy Saturday (Aug. 17) evening.

Can Be Perfect won a division of Ohio Sire Stakes action at Scioto on Saturday. Conrad Photo.

The son of Big Bad John stormed home free and clear of his rivals, finishing nearly six lengths ahead of 7-2 Opportune Hanover (Chris Page) while 6-5 Stanford Court (Ronnie Wrenn, Jr.) grabbed third-place money.

“Tim (trainer Lane) changed his big around and it helped,” winning driver Tyler Smith admitted. “There doesn’t seem to be much end to this horse and I think he has a good shot in the Championship.

Can Be Perfect, a homebred owned by James Stambaugh and trainer Tim Lane, was sent off at odds of 4-5 and now has $65,525 in career earnings from three wins and two seconds in five starts.  He is the 14th foal out of the Beach Towel mare Perfect Gesture p, 5, 1:52.4f ($264,434) and is a half-brother to:  Dave Panlone (by The Panderosa) p, 3, 1:49.2 ($831,874); Long Live Rock (by Rocknroll Hanover) p, 8, 1:50f ($617,085); Perfect Panderosa (by The Panderosa) p, 5, 1:49.4 ($243,827); Urban Renewal (by Cam’s Card Shark) p, 5, 1:51.1 ($225,206); and Sweater Vest p, 5, 1:54f ($114, 218), among others.

The second OSS division went to 6-5 Ocean Rock (Rockin Amadeus-Ocean Pearl) and driver/trainer Danny Noble, who steered the son of Rockin Amadeus to a 1:52.1 clocking for owner/breeder Sandra Burnett.

Dan Noble guided Ocean Rock to an Ohio Sire Stakes victory on Saturday night. Conrad Photo.

This homebred youngster—the first foal out of the On The Attack mare Ocean Pearl p, 5, 1:53.2f ($143,637)— was sixth in OSS Leg Two before scoring victories in his last two outings. 

“I took him to a fair and made some changes on him, and that day (at Washington Court House on July 21) was the first time he felt comfortable on the track,” Noble offered. “This is the first colt that has hurt me in the barn; he’s a handful but I think he’s one of the top three horses in this division.

Ocean Rock used front-stepping tactics to finish 1-1/2 lengths in front of 5-2 Rockntheafterparty (Kyle Ater) with 11-1 One Rock notching third-place honors for driver Brett Miller.  He now has $58,167 in career earnings from four wins and one second in six starts.

Last but not least, trainer Ronnie Burke harnessed Elver Hanover (Yankee Cruiser-Edra Hanover) to a 1:53.2 triumph for Burke Racing, B. Jablonsky, J. Melillo, J&T Silva-Purnel&Libby. 

Steered by Chris Page, the son of Yankee Cruiser was on the front end throughout most of the mile, finishing 1-1/2 lengths in front of 3-1 Gray Dragon (Brett Miller) with 6-1 Mr Ds Rock (Aaron Merriman) getting up for third. The win marked the bay gelding’s fourth in as many lifetime starts and upped his bankroll to an impressive $86,500.

Another product of the mighty Hanover Shoe Farms empire, Elver Hanover is the seventh foal out of The Panderosa mare Edra Hanover p, 2, 1:51 ($171,753). A $50,000 yearling purchase at the Ohio Select Sale, he is a half-brother to Eddard Hanover (by Dragon Again) p, 5, 1:49.3 ($508,397) and East Side Hanover (by Somebeachsomewhere) p, 3, 1:51 ($63,801), among others.