by Kimberly Rinker, Administrator, Ohio Standardbred Development Fund

Columbus, OH — The 2016 Ohio Sires Stakes season continues with 3-year-old trotting and pacing colts and geldings taking center stage at Miami Valley Raceway on Saturday night (May 7).

Four $40,000 divisions of trotters (races one, two, four, six) and pacers (races seven, eight, 11, 12) each go postward in this first leg of the Ohio Sires Stakes for sophomore Ohio-breds. Post time is 7:05 p.m. (EDT).

From 84 trotting 3-year-olds nominated to the OSS series this season, 31 are set to line up behind the starting gate Saturday night, while 38 of 96-OSS nominated sophomore pacers will compete.

JJ Zamaiko photo

MJB Got Faith, the 2015 Ohio trotting colt champion, makes his seasonal debut for owner Breanna Carsey Saturday night in Ohio Sires Stakes competition at Miami Valley Raceway.

Ohio’s 2-year-old Trotting Colt of 2015 — MJB Got Faith — makes his sophomore debut for owner Breanna Carsey. The bay altered son of Trainforthefuture dominated his freshman OSS division last year, winning all five of his starts and earning $192,500 while recording a mark of 1:57.2 at Scioto Downs. He faces six rivals in the first OSS division (race one) from post four.

Kanthaka, a bay son of Triumphant Caviar, was a multiple OSS winner last year for trainer Chris Beaver, who owns the colt in partnership with Wilbur Lang. In nine starts as a 2-year-old, Kanthaka graced the winner’s circle six times, amassing $140,814 and taking a mark of 1:57.1 in an OSS test on Aug. 21 at Northfield Park. He heads up the second division (race two) of diagonally-gaited specialists from post two.

Overdressed, a brown son of Full Count, headlines the third division (race four) from post four for Ohio’s top trotting master, Marty Wollam. The richest trotter in the eight-horse field, Overdressed earned $51,817 as a freshman, with a 1-0-3 record in eight trips postward. He took a freshman mark of 2:00 en route to an OSS triumph at Northfield on July 24.

Runner-up in the $225,000 championship last fall to MJB Got Faith is the Bobby Brower-trainee Emerald Chip. The Chip Chip Hooray youngster has drawn the coveted rail slot in the fourth OSS division (race six), facing seven rivals as he looks to up his $125,215 bank account.

Primo Giovanni, Ohio’s 2-year-old Pacing Colt of 2015, makes his 3-year-old debut in the third OSS division (race 11). Trained by Virgil Morgan Jr. for Carl Howard, this son of Big Bad John won six of eight starts as a freshman, including all four of his OSS legs. A winner of $115,161 lifetime, he’s drawn post nine in the field of 10.

Love Tap Hanover, who captured the $225,000 championship for freshman pacers at Scioto Downs on Super Night, has drawn the 10 hole in this same event. This son of Big Bad John won three of 10 starts at two, with earnings of $155,357 last season.

Friskie Cruiser, owned by Stephen Sexton and conditioned by Brian Brown, has drawn post two in the fourth OSS division (race 12). This winner of $140,621 as a freshman was under the wire first in four of his seven starts last year, including a trio of OSS races, taking a top mark of 1:54 in an OSS test at Northfield Park on Aug. 21.

Trainer/owner Brenda Teague’s Trayvon, who earned $69,593 last season and took a mark of 1:56 at Northfield Park en route to an OSS victory, heads up the second OSS division (race eight) Saturday. The bay son of I’m Gorgeous comes into this test ready, having won a Dover Downs overnight in 1:52.3 on March 31.

Gotmoneyinmypocket, who most recently won a prep and the Hackett Memorial on April 23 and 30, has drawn post seven in the first division (race seven) of sophomore pacing contestants. Although he only won two of nine starts last season, the son of Feelin Friskie did amass a respectable $62,598 for his connections.