Grove City, OH – Superstar stallion Downbytheseaside showed his dominance Saturday night (July 15) at MGM Northfield Park as his offspring won five of the six Ohio Sires Stakes events. Three of the four $40,000 divisions for 2-year-old colt pacers were won by sons of Downbytheseaside while his daughters swept the two $55,000 divisions of the 3-year-old filly pace.

Chris Page pilots Midwind Beach Boy to one of his three Ohio Sires Stakes victories Saturday night at MGM Grand Northfield Park.
Casalinova Photography.

In the first division for the freshman colt pacers, Chris Page and Ron Burke picked up the first of their three OSS wins of the night with Midwind Beach Boy. Midwind Beach Boy was slow off the gate but rallied from the back of the pack to be third at the first quarter pole before leading the field to a :57.2 half.

The 1-2 favorite fought off challenges from Racing Spirit going up the backstretch and Dragons Better around the final turn to win by a length and a half in 1:54. Owned by Burke Racing Stable, Knox Services, J&T Silva – Purnel & Libby, and RAS Racing. It was the second win in three starts for Midwind Beach Boy who has earned $105,000 this year.

Banyan House finished second with Dragons Better third.

In the second division, Seasideescape and Ronnie Wrenn Jr. took the lead heading to the first quarter and turned away a late charge down the lane from Paris’s Dragon to win for the first time in his career by three quarters of a length in 1:55.3. The Brian Brown trainee has hit the board in both starts this year. Seasideescape is owned by Country Club Acres, Joe Sbrocco & JAF Racing, Don Latore, and AWS Stables. He has earned $30,000 this year.

Paris’s Dragon was second with Side Bar third.

Clever Cody, the only winner not sired by Downbytheseaside, captured the third division in convincing fashion. Aaron Merriman took the son of The Panderosa to the lead heading to the first quarter pole but settled for the pocket trip as Janelle Granny took over the top spot. Merriman swept Clever Cody wide around the final turn and opened up to win by 4-1/2 lengths in 1:52.4. It was the first win in three starts for the Dr. Ian Moore trainee. Owned by the Clever Cody Stable, Clever Cody has pocketed $36,800 this year.

Janelle Granny held on for second with High On The Hill third.

Page and Burke picked up their second OSS win of the night in the final division for the 2-year-old colt pacers. Outer Banks went gate-to-wire to win by a length in 1:54. Outer Banks has hit the board in all three starts this year, winning two. Owned by the Burke Racing Stable, RAS Racing, J&T Silva – Purnel & Libby, and Weaver Bruscemi, Outer Banks has earned $41,560 this year.

Fear The Image was second with Hundred Dollar Man third.

Dragon By The Sea with Dan Noble won the first division for sophomore filly pacers. Dragon By the Sea grabbed the lead at the quarter pole and stayed there, winning by a length and a quarter in 1:53.2. It was the fourth win in seven races this year for the Jeff Smith trainee. Owned by John Van Horn, Dragon By The Sea has earned $105,380 in her career.

Fear Of Sports was second with All Sass third.

The final division for 3-year-old filly pacers featured four earlier Sires Stakes winners. McSeaside outdueled the others to give Page and Burke their third win of the night. The 1-5 favorite grabbed the lead just past the quarter pole and rolled to an easy win in 1:52. Owned by Burke Racing Stable, Beasty, J&T Silva Stables, and Knox Services. It was the fourth win of the year for McSeaside, who raised her lifetime earnings to $426,914.

Cruise Alert finished second with Tarapasta third.

Sires Stakes action continues Sunday night (July 16) at MGM Northfield Park with two divisions of 3-year-old filly trotters.

For more information:
Frank Fraas
ffraas@ohha.com
614-221-3650

The Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association (OHHA) is a non-profit organization serving Standardbred horse owners, breeders, trainers, drivers, and fans who participate in the sport of harness racing in the Buckeye State.

OHHA was founded in 1953. The mission of the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association is to preserve, protect, promote and serve the entire Standardbred industry in Ohio and beyond.