Grove City, OH – Don’ttruckwithme and Party Up are 3-for-3 in the Ohio Sires Stakes this season following victories in the third leg for freshman pacers at Northfield Park Racino on Saturday (Aug. 8).
Don’ttruckwithme (Chris Lems) won the second of two $75,000 divisions of colt pacers in 1:53.3. The Catch The Fire gelding finished three lengths ahead of second-place The Mighty Brix (Marvin Luna). Into The Blaze (Ronnie Gillespie) was third. Don’ttruckwithme is trained by Daren Harvey for owners Wayne Mast Jr., Eden Acres Farmstead, and Kirk Nichols. He is a perfect 5-for-5 on the year, adding wins in The Next Generation and Ohio State Fair Stakes to his three OSS victories for total earnings of $228,460.
Jett James (Dan Noble) won the first division of colt pacers by five lengths in a lifetime-best 1:51.4. First Grade (Chris Page) was second followed by North Rim (Lems) in third. Jett James is a Monte Miki gelding owned and trained by Adam Short. He has hit the board in all six seasonal starts with three wins, one second, and two thirds while banking $79,185.
Party Up (Noble) matched Don’ttruckwithme with her third OSS win of the season, taking the second of two $75,000 divisions of filly pacers in 1:54.2. The Lather Up filly led gate to wire, recording fractions of :28, :57.2, and 1:25.4 en route to winning by one and a quarter lengths. Splendid Station (Justin Irvine) and Breadnbutterz (Lems) rounded out the top three. Party Up is trained by Joe Bongiorno for owner Morrison Racing Stables. Her only seasonal starts have come in the OSS, where she has banked $87,500.
Tempting Flames (Dave Palone) recorded a dominating performance in the first division of filly pacers, winning by 14 lengths in 1:52.3. The Catch The Fire filly led gate to wire with fractions of :28.1, :57.1, and 1:25 en route to her second OSS victory of the season. Jar Of Hearts (Gillespie) was second followed by Pa Lexi (Noble) in third. Tempting Flames is trained by Michael Hitchcock for owner William Hartt. She has hit the board in all five seasonal starts with three wins and two seconds, banking $153,100.
Celebrating its 50th season, the Ohio Sires Stakes continues Sunday (Aug. 16), with the fourth leg for freshman filly trotters at Northfield Park Racino.