by Kimberly Rinker, Administrator, Ohio Standardbred Development Fund

Columbus, OH — Three $40,000 Ohio Sires Stakes for 3-year-old trotting colts were contested Friday night (Aug. 12) at Scioto Downs, and each race was a carbon copy of the others.

Each division of fourth leg action for diagonally-gaited sophomores was captured by the favorite, and all three victories were garnered in front-stepping fashion.

Conrad photo

Kanthaka scored for driver Chris Page easily in 1:55.3, the fastest time of the night in OSS action.

In the first OSS division the Chris Beaver trained Kanthaka (3-5) scored for driver Chris Page easily in 1:55.3. Beaver owns the son of Triumphant Caviar with breeder Wilbur Lang. Kanthaka upped his earnings to $224,564 with the victory, the tenth of his career in 17 starts. Kanthaka has finished off the board in only one start this season with four wins and three seconds in eight starts.

Another Breath picked up second-place honors, two lengths behind the winner, at 3-1 for Sandy Beatty, while Lets Go Bucks (7-1) came home third for Danny Noble.

MJB Got Faith (1-2) picked up seasonal win five for driver Kayne Kauffman, owner Breana Carsey and trainer Walter Haynes Jr., stopping the timer in 1:56. The Trainforthefuture gelding now has $279,600 in his lifetime bank account and has 10 career triumphs in 16 starts. He was the 2015 Ohio 2-year-old Colt Trotter of the Year.

Need A Winner (11-1) was 1-1/2 lengths back in second with Sandy Beatty at the lines, while Andi’s Unreal (8-1) was third for Chris Page.

Driver Chris Page returned to the winner’s circle in the third OSS division with Wegoferdaprize (6-5), who was clocked in 1:57. Jessica Millner harnessed the son of And Away We Go for Curran Racing LLC. Bred by Bill Troyer, Wegoferdaprize pushed his career earnings to $69,525 and his seasonal earnings to $58,420 via his sixth win of 2016 in 11 starts.

Lionbacker Kidd (17-1) was second for Peter Wrenn, finishing two lengths behind Wegoferdaprize, while Deep Question (19-1) got up for third with Danny Noble at the controls.

Ohio Sires Stakes continues Saturday (Aug. 13) at Northfield Park, with three $40,000 divisions for 3-year-old pacing colts. Post time is 6 p.m. (EDT).