Northfield, OH — Sporadic rainfall throughout the evening didn’t put a damper on $2.4 million worth of Ohio Sires Stakes contests at Northfield Park on Sunday (Sept. 1). The highlight of the eight $300,000 finals for 2- and 3-year-old trotting and pacing colts and fillies came in the final OSS event, the 3-year-old colt pace, as 6-5 favorite Bllack Hole endured an excruciating first-over journey to triumph in 1:49.4.

Bllack Hole endured an excruciating first-over journey to triumph in 1:49.4. JJ Zamaiko photo.

Owned by L&L Stables and trained by Clarence Foulk, the son of Mr Apples-Feel The Thunder was steered by Tyler Smith to his sixth straight victory this season in as many tries. Yankee Boots (Dan Noble) was second at 8-5, three-quarters of a length behind the winner, while 14-1 Cross Country (Luke Ebersole) nabbed third place honors. Bllack Hole now has $213,298 in seasonal earnings and $228,099 in his career bankroll.

Trainer Ron Burke teamed up with driver Chris Page to capture two OSS finals, beginning with Looksgoodinaromper in the 2-year-old filly pace. Owned by Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi, Looksgoodinaromper used wire-to-wire tactics to score a 1:52.4 clocking as the 1-2 favorite. Beautiful Beach was second for Aaron Merriman at 8-1 while Artful Dancer was third for Trace Tetrick at 11-1 odds.

The Pet Rock lass had established a world record of 1:52.3 for 2-year-old pacing fillies on a half-mile track via her victory in a $50,000 OSS leg at Northfield on Aug. 9. Bred by Robert and Barbara Bongiorno, Looksgoodinaromper is the first foal out of the Village Connection mare Don’t Blame Her p,1:51.2s ($830,555). Her freshman earnings now stand at $241,300 from four wins, one second and a third in six starts.

Burke and Page returned to the winner’s circle a few races later with 3-5 favorite Elver Hanover, a son of Yankee Cruiser-Edra Hanover who stormed to a four length 1:51.2 effort in the 2-year-old colt pace final. Owned by Burke Racing, Bridgette Jablonsky, Jason Melillo, and J&T Silva- Purnel & Libby, Elver Hanover got the best of 9-5 Ocean Rock (Dan Noble) who had led the field of eight until the head of the stretch. Mr D’s Rock (Aaron Merriman) was third at 39-1 odds. Elver Hanover is now six for six lifetime, with a career bankroll of $256,500.

Driver Aaron Merriman scored the first of his two OSS final victories by piloting 3-1 Kikimora to a 1:57 triumph for trainer Chris Beaver in the 2-year-old filly trot final. The daughter of Triumphant Caviar-Nessa Rose posted her third win in seven tries for owner/breeder Sandra S. Burnett who owns the filly in partnership with her trainer. She now has $203,556 in career earnings. Even-money favorite Globetrotting was second for Anthony MacDonald with 7-2 Guinevere Hall (Peter Wrenn) third.

Merriman next took the 3-year-old filly trot final with 1-9 Only Take Cash, last year’s 2-year-old winner, in 1:54.1. Owned by Robert McIntosh Stables, Dave Boyle and Mardon Stables, the daughter of Cash Hall-Armbro Affair was a front-stepping winner by three-quarters of a length over 13-1 Weslynn Quest (Tyler Smith) and 9-1 Aunt Rose (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.). Only Take Cash upped her career earnings to $570,561 with her 14th win in 17 starts.

Action Uncle was a front end winner for driver Brett Miller and trainer Virgil Morgan Jr. in 1:55.1 in the 2-year-old colt trot final. The homebred Uncle Peter-Action-broadway youngster is owned by Kenneth Sommer Trust and notched his second career victory at 5-2 odds. The winner finished just under two lengths in front of 8-1 Big Box Hanover (Simon Allard) with 8-1 Exhibit Class (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) third. Action Uncle now has $196,300 in earnings.

Driver Tony Hall brought the tough Queen Of The Pride into the Northfield Park winner’s circle for owner Frank Chick in 1:51.3 in the 3-year-old filly pace final. The rangy McArdle-Lionness Hanover filly, who left the gate at 2-1 odds, was bred by Brad Wallace and bested 6-5 Giggles In Dreams (Shawn Barker II), with 82-1 Norman’s Madeline (Lewayne Miller) getting up for third. Queen Of The Pride pushed her lifetime bankroll to $660,479 with her 13th career win.

Finally, 4-5 Lane Of Stone and Jeff Nisonger captured the 3-year-old colt trot final for trainer Mark Winters Sr. and owner/co-breeder Harry Horowitz. The son of Wishing Stone-Wisteria Lane was never headed throughout the one mile test, stopping the clock in 1:54.1 as he recorded career victory number 15 and added the $150,000 winner’s share to his lifetime bank account of $431,213. Voyage To Paris was second for Dan Noble at 6-1 with 37-1 longshot Yes third for Anthony MacDonald.

Eight $75,000 OSS consolation races will be held Saturday (Sept. 7) at Scioto Downs, along with a pair of $75,000 veteran championships for pacers, ages 4 and up.