by Kimberly Rinker, OSDF Administrator

Columbus, OH — The richest night in Ohio racing history will commence Saturday (Sept. 8) when eight $275,000 Ohio Sires Stakes finals score behind the Scioto Downs starting gate. A total of $2.2 million will be on the line for 2- and 3-year-old Ohio-sired trotting and pacing colts and fillies. First race post time is 6:30 p.m. (EDT).

The Ohio Sires Stakes spotlights youngsters and older horses conceived in the Buckeye State by a stallion residing in the state and registered with the Ohio State Racing Commission. The resulting foals are made eligible to the OSS program via a one-time nomination payment by March 15 of their 2- or 3-year-old season and can then enter the four-leg series. Horses garner points in the series based on their finish in the legs, and the top point earners are thus given a starting berth in the rich finals.

The top five money-earning trainers from the four legs of the Ohio Sires Stakes are Brian Brown, Chris Beaver, Ron Burke, Kimberly Dailey and Jason McGinnis.

USTA photo

Brian Brown’s trainees banked $644,100 in OSS money in 2018.

Brian Brown has conditioned 17 winners, 18 second-place finishers and seven third-place finishers to $644,100 in the OSS series, from 89 starters. The Delaware, Ohio-based Brown conditioned a trio of 3-year-old pacing fillies to two wins each in their division: Smiley Dragon (1:52.4, 1:52.3); McPansy (1:51.3, 1:52.3); and Prsntpretynperfect (1:52.4, 1:51.4). These three ladies sit first, third and fifth in the point earnings in their division.

Brown also conditions OSS winner Cinnamack (1:50.4) — who sits fifth — and seventh-place point earner Slick Mick, in the 3-year-old colt pacing division.

Brown has four of the top nine point earners in the 2-year-old pacing filly division, with Carmen Ohio (1:55.2) in second; Final Offer, a two-time OSS winner in third (1:55.2, 1:55); High Reward (1:53.1) in fifth and Mi Nina Bronca in the ninth slot.

Brown’s top shot to capture the 2-year-old colt pacing final is High On Paydaze, a three-time OSS winner (1:53.1, 1:54.2, 1:54.1), who is tied for the top spot along with the Kimberly Dailey-trained Rose Run Ulysses. Both youngsters have earned $64,800 in the OSS series.

Brown’s other contestants in this same division are third-place point earner Rock Candy (1:53); fourth-place point earner Dislocator (1:53.3); Smackitwithahammer (1:52.3), eighth in points earned; and Tony Too Tall, ninth.

Buckeye trotting guru Chris Beaver’s charges have earned $371,350 in OSS competition this season from nine wins, eight seconds and 11 thirds in 52 starts.

Beaver has four of the top point earners in the 2-year-old filly trot division, with Aunt Rose (1:59.1, 1:59) third, followed by Stone In Love (1:59.2) fifth; Pure Chance (1:59.2) sixth; and Back Splash (1:57.3) eighth. As well, Beaver’s trainee Never Say Uncle, winner of his second OSS leg in 1:58.4, is fourth in the point standings in the 2-year-old colt trot division. In the 3-year-old filly trot division, Beaver has the fifth, sixth and seventh top point earners in Red Storm (1:55.4); California Love (1:56.2) and Sesame.

Though he’s garnered just three victories in OSS contests this season, North America’s leading trainer Ron Burke has amassed $263,500 in OSS earnings from his 58 starters who have also notched 11 second-place finishes and eight third-place finishes.

This New Jersey-based conditioner’s Wittyville — who won leg three in 1:56.2 — is the sixth-highest point earner in the 2-year-old colt trot division, while Rose Run Uptowngal is eighth in the 2-year-old filly pace class. Burke’s charges Seeing Eye Single and Rockin Motion (1:51.1) are fourth and eighth, respectively, in points in the 3-year-old colt pace division, while Baron Remy (1:52) is fourth in points earned in the 3-year-old filly pace class and Impinktoo is fourth in the 3-year-old filly trot ranks.

Urbana-based conditioner Kimberly Dailey harnessed 32 starters in OSS events this season, with seven wins, two seconds and six thirds, for $204,500 in earnings. Her top charge is the 2-year-old colt pacer Rose Run Ulysses, tied for first place in his division with Brown’s High On Paydaze, and a winner of three OSS legs in 1:52.2, 1:54.1 and 1:52.

As well, Dailey has second-place point earners Bad Girls Rule (1:54.1) in the 3-year-old filly pacing division and two-time OSS winner Rockathon (1:51.1, 1:51.4) in the 3-year-old colt pace class.

Last, but certainly not least, is the Ontario-based conditioner Jason McGinnis, who began his foray into OSS competition this season with 20 starters, six winners, four second-place finishers and three third-place finishers while earning $179,600.

The McGinnis-trained Yes (1:59, 1:57) is the second highest point earner in the 2-year-old colt trot division, while stablemate Oh So Pine (2:01.3) is in the eighth spot. McGinnis’ See You In Tuscany (1:53, 1:57.3) sits sixth in points earned in the 2-year-old colt pacing ranks, while Twinsburg (1:54.4) is the seventh highest point earner in the 2-year-old filly pacing ranks.