by Kimberly Rinker, OSDF Administrator

Columbus, OH — A pair of $50,000 Ohio Sires Stakes divisions for 3-year-old pacing colts will be contested Saturday night (Aug. 18) at Scioto Downs. First race post time is 6:30 p.m. (EDT), with the two OSS divisions slated as races five and seven.

JJ Zamaiko photo

Bounding Dragon will be looking to notch his third Ohio Sires Stakes leg on Saturday night at Scioto Downs.

Returning is Bounding Dragon, the top point getter (128) in this four-leg series, in the first division (race five) from post five. The son of Dragon Again has already won legs one (in 1:53) and three (in 1:51.1), with a second-place finish in the second leg. Trained by Mike Roth for Alan Keith and Carl and Melanie Atley, Bounding Dragon has amassed $57,500 in OSS earnings, with a seasonal bankroll of $105,100 and a lifetime bank account of $176,509.

The Atleys, who hail from Xenia, Ohio, also own Rockathon, who sits second in this division (115 points), along with trainer Kim Dailey. This Pet Rock gelding was third in leg one, then scored back-to-back wins in the next two OSS legs, pacing in 1:51.1 and 1:51.4, respectively. A winner of $54,800 in this series to date, Rockathon has $112,015 in seasonal earnings and $231,966 in his career coffers. He starts from post seven in the second OSS division (race seven).

North America Cup winner and OSS leg one winner Lather Up will start from post two in Rockathon’s division. The son of I’m Gorgeous captured leg one in 1:50, before posting a blistering 1:48.1 clocking in his North America Cup triumph at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Trained by Clyde Francis for breeders/owners Gary and Barbara Iles, Lather Up also won a Max Hempt Memorial elimination in 1:49 at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono and an Ohio State Fair Stake at Scioto on Aug. 4 in a heart-stopping 1:49.4 with regular driver Montrell Teague at the lines. He currently sits seventh in the OSS standings with 51 points to his credit and $20,000 in OSS earnings. Lifetime, Lather Up has garnered $576,465, with his seasonal earnings at $502,365.

Leg two winner Cinnamack returns to battle in the second OSS division for trainer Brian Brown and breeder/owner Emerald Highlands Farm from post six. This McArdle colt won leg two in 1:50.4 at Scioto Downs on June 9 and was fourth in leg one and sixth in leg three. A winner of $28,200 in this series, Cinnamack has $63,994 earned this season and $85,894 amassed lifetime.

Of the 13 sophomore pacers, four each were sired by Ohio-based stallions Dragon Again and Pet Rock. As well, the stallions I’m Gorgeous, McArdle, Mr Apples, The Panderosa and We Will See are represented by one foal each.

Ohio Sires Stakes action continues with two $50,000 leg four divisions for 3-year-old trotting fillies on Monday night (Aug. 20) at Northfield Park.