by Kimberly Rinker, OSDF Administrator

Columbus, OH — The temperature wasn’t the only thing sizzling on a scorching Tuesday afternoon (Aug. 28) at Scioto Downs as six $40,000 Ohio Sires Stakes divisions were contested for 2-year-old diagonally-gaited specialists.

These tests were the final leg in the four-round series and the outcome of each determined which youngsters are eligible to enter the $275,000 finals at Scioto Downs on Sept. 8.

The trio of colt divisions featured 27 male trotters, with the Broadway Hall-Cynthia Iliad gelding Homer Hall capturing the first division in a career best 1:56.3 for driver Ryan Stahl. Conditioned by Steve Carter, Homer Hall won OSS leg one in 1:59.3, was third in leg two and fourth in leg three for owners Carter, Jay Mossbarger and Cass Gallagher. The youngster left the gate at odds of 5-2, besting 9-1 rival Never Say Uncle (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) and 60-1 longshot Bank Box Treasure (Josh Sutton). Homer Hall upped his bankroll to $73,506 and now has seven wins and a third in nine starts.

Anthony MacDonald steered 5-2 Yes, a gelded son of Manofmanymissions-Fantasy Yankee to victory in the second OSS colt division for trainer Jason McGinnis. Owned by Thestable Yes Group, Yes was clocked in a new life mark of 1:57, with 6-5 Wittyville (Chris Page) second and 5-2 Cumberland Gap (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) third. Bred by Eddie Lohmeyer, Yes was third in OSS leg one to Homer Hall before winning leg two in 1:59.2, and was second in leg three. He has $64,075 in his coffers from two wins, two seconds and one third in six starts.

Jeff Nisonger steered Lane Of Stone to victory in 1:59.1 in his Ohio Sires Stakes division.

Lane Of Stone, a brown son of Wishing Stone-Wisteria Lane, captured the third OSS colt test in 1:59.1 for driver Jeff Nisonger. Trained by Mark Winters for owner/breeder Harry Horowitz, Lane Of Stone was the 2-1 choice, besting 5-2 Cassius Lane (Don Harmon), with 14-1 Gallivant (Aaron Merriman) notching show money. This homebred has $76,143 earned from six wins and a second in seven starts. Lane Of Stone won OSS leg one in 1:59.3 and leg two in 1:58.2 by nine lengths, and finished second in leg three to Wittyville.

See Me Sparkle, a Broadway Hall-Queen Of Lavec filly, took the first distaff division handily in 1:57 as the 9-5 choice for driver Jim Pantaleano. Trained by J.L. Adams for Martin Valentic, John Bednarski Jr. and Kassandra Adams, See Me Sparkle won her OSS leg one in 2:00.3, was seventh in leg two and third in leg three to Only Take Cash. She’s earned $59,575 lifetime from three wins, one second and one third in six starts. Danny Noble steered 14-1 Meadowbranch Vicki to a second-place finish, while 8-5 Spirit Bell (Ryan Stahl) got up for third.

Ben Holton/Conrad Photography photos

Only Take Cash and driver Aaron Merriman set a new Scioto Downs track record for 2-year-old trotting fillies of 1:56 in her Ohio Sires Stakes division.

As expected, Only Take Cash notched her third win in this series by capturing the second filly division in a new Scioto Downs track record clocking of 1:56 for driver Aaron Merriman. This Cash Hall-Armbro Affair homebred lass, who is trained by Robert McIntosh for the Canadian trio of McIntosh Stables, Dave Boyle and Mardon Stables, was second in leg one to Vivi D, then won leg two in 1:57.1 and leg three in 1:56.4. She turned the tables in this fourth leg on her rival, 6-1 second-place finisher Vivi D (Kyle Ater), with 70-1 longshot DJ Miracle (Crist Hershberger) grabbing show money. Only Take Cash is the richest freshman filly in these Ohio Sires Stakes, with $102,690 in earnings from six wins and one second in seven starts.

Aunt Percilla stepped up in just her second start in this series to capture the third OSS filly division in 1:57.3. Danny Noble guided the Uncle Peter-Ilazue lass to her maiden victory as a 16-1 longshot for trainer Jim Eaton and owners Mystical Marker Farm and Robert Silberberg. Pure Chance was second at 7-5 for Aaron Merriman with Stone In Love third for Chris Page at 6-5. Aunt Percilla now has $22,000 earned with the win, her first on-the-board finish in five pari-mutuel tries.

The top nine 2-year-old trotting colt point earners are as follows: Lane Of Stone (179); Yes (141); Homer Hall (124); Never Say Uncle (92); Bosley (91); Cumberland Gap (91); Wittyville (91); Oh So Pine (90); and Peter Trottintail (89).

The top nine 2-year-old trotting filly point earners are: Only Take Cash (179); Vivi D (129); Aunt Rose (121); See Me Sparkle (116); Stone In Love (116); Pure Chance (116); Spirit Bell (83); Back Splash (81); and Princessofpink (66).