Columbus, OH — Rock N Republic came out of nowhere to capture the first of two $50,000 second-leg divisions of Ohio Sires Stakes for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings on Saturday (June 19) at Eldorado Scioto Downs. Charlie May captured the other division, defeating favorite Heart Of Chewbacca.

Rock N Republic won his Ohio Sires Stakes in 1:51.3 in line to driver Josh Sutton.

Piloted expertly by Josh Sutton, Rock N Republic stormed past the field coming out of the final turn to capture his contest in a lifetime best 1:51.3. The winner left the gate at 7-1 odds, finishing a neck in front of the late-charging Laughagain Hanover (Dan Noble), with I’m Sorry Man getting up for third in the late going for driver Chris Page.

Trained by Robert Taylor for Dossie L. Minor of Springfield, Ohio, Rock N Republic pushed his career earnings to $68,522 with his 10th win in 16 lifetime starts. The Pet Rock gelding, who is out of the Dragon Again mare My Juliana’s Girl p, 4, 1:52.3f ($121,560) and is a half-brother to Juliana The Barn (by Art Major) p, 3, 1:55.4f ($25,480), was bred by L&J Racing.

This second leg of the four-event series was Rock N Republic’s first venture into Ohio Sires Stakes competition.

Charlie May (#3) bested rival Heart Of Chewbacca in a nail-biting finish. Conrad photos.

The second division was a virtual slugfest between the two top rivals in this division — Heart Of Chewbacca and Charlie May — who battled from the three-quarter marker to the finish line, with the later grabbing a half-length decision over the former in 1:49.3. Driven by Brett Miller as the 8-5 choice, Charlie May picked up his ninth career win for breeder-owner Don R. Tiger of Canonsburg, Pa. Heart Of Chewbacca, the 2-5 public choice, finished second with Dan Noble driving, while long shot KB Mac was third for Hunter Myers.

Charlie May, a gelded son of McArdle, pushed his lifetime bankroll to $368,627. He is the seventh of nine foals out of the unraced Western Hanover mare Stipple Hanover and has half-siblings in Velocity Stifler (by Arts Chip) p, 3, 1:50.3f ($217,143) and Nikki Bella (by Arts Chip) p,2, 1:55f ($47,005), and in the 2-year-old Racing Hill colt Shane Falco, p, 2, Q1:56.3.