by Kimberly Rinker, OSDF Administrator

Columbus, OH — Four $60,000 Ohio Sires Stakes championships for veteran pacers and trotters, 4-year-olds and up, will be contested Saturday night (Oct. 6) at Northfield Park. The four OSS events, carded as races nine through 12 on the 16-race program, feature full, eight-horse fields. First race post time is 6 p.m. (EDT).

Trainer Ron Burke sends out a formidable pair in the $60,000 OSS Mare Pacing championship (race nine), $340,262-earner Rosemary Rose and Feelin Red Hot, who sports a bankroll of $213,279.

Conrad photo

Rosemary Rose has won 18 of 44 career starts.

Owned by Burke Racing, Jason Melilo and Weaver Bruscemi, Rosemary Rose is a 4-year-old daughter of Foreclosure N, out of The Panderosa mare Pantathlon. A winner of 18 of 44 career starts, Rosemary Rose won an $18,500 Filly & Mare Open Handicap at Dayton on Sept. 14 in 1:52.1. Bred by Ron Salcedo, Rosemary Rose starts from the rail with Chris Page aboard.

Stablemate Feelin Red Hot leaves from post four with Ronnie Wrenn Jr. in the sulky. This 5-year-old Feelin Friskie lass won a $19,000 Northfield Park Filly & Mare Open on Sept. 15 in wire-to-wire fashion in 1:51.1. Owned by Burke Racing and Weaver Bruscemi, Feelin Red Hot has won 19 of her 74 trips postward for these connections.

The $60,000 OSS Trotting championship (race 10) features a hardy field of eight diagonally-gaited specialists, who collectively have earned more than $3.26 million.

Buckeye Boss looks like the one to beat from post three. Aaron Merriman steers the 4-year-old Triumphant Caviar gelding for trainer Chris Beaver, who co-owns Buckeye Boss along with breeder Marion Beachy and Synerco Ventures. A winner of $331,874 from 15 wins, three seconds and three thirds in 34 career starts, Buckeye Boss has five triumphs to his credit this season, including a 1:54.3 score at Scioto Downs on Sept. 8 in a $30,000 Open.

I Know My Chip is another with a solid shot in this event, hailing from conditioner Walter Haynes Jr.’s stable. A winner of $846,006 lifetime, the 6-year-old son of Deep Chip has battled against some of North America’s best trotters this season, with his most impressive effort coming in the $186,000 Crawford at Tioga Downs on Aug. 12, when he was second to Will Take Charge in 1:52.1.

The 7-year-old Victory Sam gelding Lady’s Dude has earned $763,848 from 44 wins, 16 seconds and 17 thirds in 118 career trips postward. Bred by Ohioan Duane Lowe and trained by Ron Burke, Lady’s Dude has been super consistent in the Ohio opens for his connections this year, with seasonal earnings of $128,750.

Conrad photo

Dancin Yankee, shown here winning the 2015 edition of the Ohio Sires Stakes championship, will be trying for his fourth victory in this stake.

Millionaire Dancin Yankee is the clear standout in race 11, the $60,000 OSS Pacing championship. Ron Burke will harness the 10-year-old Yankee Cruiser stallion from post three with Chris Page driving for the Burke Racing Stable. With $1,806,957 earned, Dancin Yankee has been one of the most consistent Ohio-bred performers throughout his career, with 68 wins, 48 seconds and 30 thirds from 216 lifetime starts. This season he’s scored nine triumphs — including a heart-stopping 1:48.4 victory in a Scioto Downs Open. As well, Dancin Yankee captured this same event in 2014 (in 1:52.1); in 2015 (in 1:51.3); and in 2016 (in 1:52.2), the last time it was contested.

The $60,000 OSS Mare Trotting championship (race 12) sees $320,471-earner A TC Queenie as the one to beat. Trained by Ron Steck for Trish Sousby and Rick Schaut, this 5-year-old daughter of Triumphant Caviar-American Queen lost a nose decision in the Ohio Breeders Championship at Delaware on Sept. 19 but had previously won six of 21 starts this season. Lifetime, she’s visited the winner’s circle 20 times, with 10 seconds and seven thirds from 66 career outings.

As well, another Burke trainee has a formidable chance in this same event. Party At The Banks, a 4-year-old Break The Bank K lass, prevailed impressively in the Ohio Breeders Championship at Delaware on Sept. 19 in 1:53.4 before finishing second in a conditioned trot at Dayton on Sept. 28. Owned by Burke Racing and Weaver Bruscemi, Party At The Banks has amassed $49,973 from eight wins, eight seconds and a third in 28 career starts. Dan Noble drives from post three.

Rose Run Sydney has been saddled with the dreaded eight-hole for trainer Steve Carter, who owns the 4-year-old Triumphant Caviar filly in partnership with Adam Friedland and Rbr Racing. A winner of $522,283 in her career from 22 wins in 50 starts, Rose Run Sydney captured the $250,000 OSS 3-year-old championship last season. Ryan Stahl is slated to be in the bike from the outside slot.