by Kimberly Rinker, Administrator, Ohio Standardbred Development Fund
Columbus, OH — Seven $40,000 Ohio Sires Stakes for 2-year-old fillies graced Scioto Down’s oval on Tuesday afternoon (Aug. 23) with 25 trotters and 35 pacers lining up behind the starting gate. It was the fourth and final leg of the series, which for some, determined their eligibility for a starting berth in the $250,000 OSS Championships, set for Sept. 3 at Northfield Park.
Marion Beachy’s Berazzled dazzled the crowd in the first pacing division as she romped to a winning 1:53.3 mile for driver Peter Wrenn and trainer Danny Collins. The daughter of Charley Barley-Razmataz Hanover finished three-quarters of a length ahead of Bourbon And Barley (Ryan Stahl) and Bellasbrowneyegirl (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.).
“It wasn’t the trip we wanted but it worked out,” noted Collins. “We knew going into this race that we had to be on the board to make the final and she got the job done for us.”
Bred by Lisa Ezzo, Berazzled upped her earnings to $56,040 and now has three wins in six career starts. She won leg three of this series on Aug. 15 at Northfield Park in 1:55 by an impressive 7-1/4 lengths.
Big Bad Jane was big and bad for trainer-driver Danny Noble, who put the daughter of Big Bad John-Flower Cart on the front end and never looked back to win the second OSS pacing division in 1:53.2. It was the filly’s first OSS victory and second of the season in seven starts for owner Sandra Burnett, who co-bred Big Bad Jane along with Sam Noble III. Big Bad Jane now has $37,891 in her bankroll. Rosa’s Touch (Mike Wilder) finished two lengths behind the winner in second, while 9-5 favorite Bye Bye Felicia was third for Chris Page.
Brian Brown harnessed Type A Grey to her fifth consecutive victory in as many tries as she swept the fourth leg of her OSS series in 1:55.2 for driver Chris Page. The Art Official-Just My Type daughter, who was bred by White Birch Farm, pushed her earnings to $97,900 for the Emerald Highlands Farm as she rattled off another front-end triumph.
“She’s been razor sharp all year long,” noted Page. “Track size doesn’t matter to her at all and she’s great gaited, so we’ll just be hoping for a good post in the championship.”
Ellasen (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) was second by a game nose, while Da Vinci Artist (Kurt Sugg) was third by a head.
Ronnie Wrenn Jr. gave Zoe Ellasen a perfect steer to capture the final pacing division in a new career mark of 1:54.4. It was the third lifetime victory and the second OSS triumph for the daughter of Santanna Blue Chip-Spring Delight, who is trained by Ron Potter for owner Clyde Perfect.
Using wire-to-wire tactics, Zoe Ellasen prevailed by a half-length over Glorious Intent (Chris Page), while Libby’s Idea (Aaron Merriman) got up for third-place honors. Zoe Ellasen now has $72,700 in her freshman bank account.
Let’s Get Started was given a confident steer by Josh Sutton in the first of three trotting divisions to win in 1:57. This Dejarmbro-Tori Ann lass won leg three on Aug. 15 at Northfield in a track record time of 1:57 and leg two on July 19 in a track record clocking of 1:56.3, after finishing second in leg one at Northfield timed in 1:57.4.
“I really wasn’t worried or concerned about her effort going into this race,” Sutton quipped. “She’s so dominant and solid gaited that I think she’ll have no problem winning the final in similar style.”
Bred and owned by Joyce and Richard McClelland, Let’s Get Started now has $90,300 in her coffers. She is trained by Bobby Brower.
Longshot Vatanna finished second for Randy Tharps, while the hard-trying I Like Purple got up for a well-deserved third place finish.
The public’s 6-5 choice Ms Bank Robber used front-stepping tactics to win the second trotting division in a lifetime best clocking of 1:57.2 for driver Kyle Ater and trainer Steve Carter. The daughter of Break The Bank K-Chippiesbrownsugar now has $44,571 in lifetime earnings for Our Little Stable and Jake Mossbarger. Ms Bank Robber had made breaks in two of her previous OSS tests, but did stay flat for a second-place effort to Let’s Get Started on July 19 at Scioto Downs. Vandy’s Magic (Peter Wrenn) notched second, while Pennys N Dimes (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) garnered third. Ms Bank Robber was bred by the George Sholty Stable.
Peter Wrenn had his hands full with the strong-headed Amuse’s, but the daughter of Break The Bank K-Sweet Mademoiselle did not disappoint, trotting determinedly on the front end to win her division in 1:56.4. That time was a new lifetime mark for the Rich Gillock-trained Amuse’s, who is owned and was bred by Robert Key.
“She wanted to go, so we went,” chuckled Wrenn in the winner’s circle after the filly had drawn away from her rivals by 4-1/2 lengths. Rose Run Sydney (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) was second, with Fluxcapacitor Kidd (Kurt Sugg) getting up for third.