by Kimberly A. Rinker, Administrator, Ohio Standardbred Development Fund

Columbus, OH — Two-year-old colts and geldings went postward on Saturday afternoon (July 4) at Scioto Downs in ten divisions of Ohio Sires Stakes, each sporting a purse of $40,000. Six pacing divisions and four trotting splits vied over Scioto’s five-eighths-mile oval, with a total of 92 youngsters battling.

Big Bad Cam won the fifth OSS pacing division by nearly eight lengths in 1:53.2 for driver Peter Wrenn.

Big Bad Cam strode to victory in dominant fashion when he won the fifth OSS pacing division (race 14) by nearly eight lengths in 1:53.2 for driver Peter Wrenn. Harnessed by Melanie Wrenn for owner Dorothy Miller, the Big Bad John gelding notched his first career victory. The $26,000 yearling purchase is out of the Arturo mare Camturo, a winner of $190,615 in her career with a mark of p,6,1:52.2f.

“I wasn’t really sure we were going that fast,” said the winning driver. “This was really impressive and gives us something to look forward to.”

Benda Teague’s Trayvon (Randy Tharps) was second best with Love Tap Hanover (Dave Palone) getting up for third.

Friskie Cruiser paced to a gutsy, first over haul to draw off and win by nearly six lengths in the sixth $40,000 OSS pacing division (race 15) with Chris Page in the sulky. The Feelin Friskie-Corner Cruiser colt gave Page his fourth winning drive of the day and was the youngster’s first career win.

“Brian Brown races all over the country and always has his horses ready,” Page noted. “You have to give him and his crew all the credit for a performance like this.”

Owned by Stephen Sexton, Friskie Cruiser bested Onefinejimmerjohn (Dan Noble) in the stretch, with Rocknroll Wildcats (Andy Shetler) holding on for third.

Carl Howard’s Primo Giovani gave an impressive showing when he rallied to win the fourth (race 12) OSS pacing division in 1:56.2. Given a confident steer by Chris Page, the son of Big Bad John-Jk Reunited came three-wide around the final turn after sitting quiet through splits of :27.4, :58.1 and 1:27.1. He was harnessed by Ohio’s leading conditioner Virgil Morgan Jr.

“This colt started out very slow and immature and he’s just progressively gotten better at the right time,” Morgan said. “He qualified really well and today from the eight-hole, he left well and Chris (driver Page) got out at the right time. I’m very pleased with his effort.”

Gotmoneyinmypocket (Randy Tharps) finished a strong second with Aloha John and Kurt Sugg prevailing over the rest of the field for third-place honors.

Smoke Up Johnny captured the first OSS division (race two) of pacing colts in 1:56 en rein to driver Greg Grismore. This son of Big Bad John-Leda’s Twoeleven got the lead at the head of the stretch and posted a :28.4 final brush to nail down his first career victory for the Parent Racing Stable LLC. A Yankee Feeln (Aaron Merriman) finished second, 3-1/4 lengths behind the winner, while Forever Worth It (Ryan Stahl) was third.

Whiskey Friskie and Aaron Merriman captured the second $40,000 OSS pacing division (race 10) in 1:57.1 for owner Karen McGraw. John Ryan Melsheimer conditions the son of Feelin Friskie-Be My Lucky Star, who picked up his second straight pari-mutuel victory in as many tries, pushing his career earnings to $21,200. Mighty Touch (Chris Page) finished second, while Formula Three (Josh Sutton) notched third place honors.

Dan Noble piloted the Fred Huff, Jr.-trainee Nothing Fancy to a whisker victory in 1:56 in the third OSS pacing division (race 11). The son of Metropolitan-Jl Cruise The Nile is owned by Huff and John Fairchild. It was the freshman pacer’s first career victory. Mr Wiggle Pants (Kayne Kauffman), who had led for most of the mile until the final yards, was a hard-trying second, while Turn It On Friskie (Randy Tharps) was third.

Conrad photos

Kanthaka scored the fastest trotting mile, turning in a 1:58.3 clocking for driver Dave Palone and trainer Chris Beaver.

In the four $40,000 trotting divisions of OSS youngsters, it was Kanthaka who scored the fastest mile (race three), turning in a 1:58.3 clocking for Dave Palone and trainer Chris Beaver. The son of Triumphant Caviar-Elena picked up his second straight career victory in as many tries for owner Wilbur Lang and his trainer. One the gate folded Kanthaka left hard and never looked back, with his closest rival One Hot Future and driver Chris Page some eight lengths behind at the wire. Dusty Road (Kayne Kauffman) finished a hard-fought third.

Chips So Fast and Aaron Merriman won the third OSS division (race five) for colt trotters, using a perfect garden trip to score in 1:59.1. This son of Chip Chip Hooray-Stable Creek Barb is conditioned by Ryan Angus for Mark Moger and Albert Delia. Chips So Fast bested rival Deep Question (Chris Page) by three-quarters of a length, with Triumphant’s Chip (Tyler Smith) holding on for third.

Chris Beaver harnessed Lone Valley Sam to capture the first OSS division (race one) in 2:00.1 with Chris Page in the sulky. The Iron Duke-Wallaby Wannabee colt is co-owned by his trainer along with Synerco Ventures Inc., Steven Zeehandelar and David Lang. Page used a perfect trip behind the pacesetting Lionbacker Kidd (Aaron Merriman) to sweep by him at the wire. Fantasy League (Dan Noble) finished third.

MJB Got Faith scored a mile upset when he cruised to a photo victory in the final OSS trotting division (race 13) in 2:00.4, over the hard-fighting Another Breath (Hugh Beatty). Overdressed and driver Kurt Sugg notched show honors. The son of Trainforthefuture-Imageofasweetgirl is trained by Steve Carter for Breana Carsey and picked up his first career victory with the Scioto Downs triumph.