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

Columbus, OH — A total of 85 freshman Ohio-bred fillies passed the entry box at Northfield Park this week, resulting in 11 divisions of Ohio Sires Stakes races to be contested Friday (July 3). Each division sports a $40,000 purse in this first leg for 2-year-old pacing and trotting fillies.

Five divisions of 2-year-old trotting fillies will line behind the starting gate in races one, two, three, five and 14. Three seven-horse fields and two eight-horse fields comprise the lot of 37 diagonally-gaited distaffs.

Six eight-horse fields of side wheeling 2-year-old fillies are set in races four, six, seven, nine, 12 and 15. This group of 48 pacing lasses will be making their foray into the OSS ranks for the first time.

In the first $40,000 OSS division of pacing fillies (race four), trainer Jim Arledge Jr. will harness Big Bad Ashley for the Winchester Baye Acres, Inc. This daughter of Big Bad John comes into her OSS debut fresh off a solid 2:03 clocking in an Ohio Fair Stake at Circleville on June 21. Dan Noble drives.

Awakening looks to be the solid favorite in the second $40,000 OSS division (race six) for owner-trainer Mike Polhamus. This daughter of Feelin Friskie has two strong wins to her credit thus far this season, with a 2:07 debut on June 9 at Paulding and a June 23, wire-to-wire victory in 2:05 at Ottawa. That latter start saw her brush home in an impressive :27.3.

John’s Sunny Girl headlines the third $40,000 OSS division (race seven). Trained by Doug Hinklin for the Parent Racing Stable, LLC, this daughter of Big Bad John won a Scioto overnight on June 25 in 1:56.2. Piloted by Greg Grismore, John’s Sunny Girl left hard from the eight-hole and never looked back, pacing her final panel in a respectable :28.2.

A pair of Big Bad John daughters will face off in the fourth $40,000 division (race nine) of OSS pacing fillies. Amber John, who is conditioned by Scott Cox for the Parent Racing Stable, comes into this contest with a pair of solid, winning Northfield Park qualifiers under her belt. She paced in 2:03 on June 11 and followed that up with a 2:01 score on June 25. Challenging Amber John will be It’s Your Fantasy, conditioned by Jim Arledge Jr. for Winchester Baye Acres, LLC, who won an Ohio Fair Stake on June 21 at Circleville in 2:02.3, leading every step of the way.

Queen Ann M comes into the fifth $40,000 OSS division (race 12) fresh off a 1:57.1 qualifying score at Hoosier Park on June 24 for trainer Mike Roth. This daughter of Big Bad John — who starts from post eight — will have to face Feelin Colossal, who has an inside advantage from post three. Trained by owner William Aldrich, this daughter of Feelin Friskie captured an Ohio Fair Stake on June 21 at Circleville in a modest 2:09 by six lengths. Ufpfortydevensgirl, a daughter of Up Front Charlie, also comes into this event fresh off a triumph, with a 2:00.3 mark recorded in a Scioto Downs qualifier on June 29 for trainer Terry Thompson, Jr. Angry Shelby also won her Scioto Downs qualifier on June 22, pacing in 1:59 with Greg Grismore in the bike for trainer Doug Hinklin.

Harness The Hope looks like a solid choice from the rail in the sixth and final $40,000 OSS test (race 15). Trained by Timothy Lane, this daughter of Big Bad John finished third in her pari-mutuel debut at Scioto Downs on June 25, timed in 1:57.2. Big Cake, another Big Bad John progeny, scored a 1:59.3 qualifying effort on June 15 in a come-from-behind effort for trainer Brian Georges. The Jim Arledge Jr.-trained Big Bad Chickie scored a similar victory on June 21 at Circleville, timed in 2:04.2. This Big Bad John lass is owned by the aforementioned Winchester Baye Acres.

A field of seven trotting fillies go head-to-head in the first $40,000 OSS division (race one) — all making their pari-mutuel debuts. Two daughters of Chip Chip Hooray — Haley Chip and Kerfuffle Cookie — from post one and three, respectively, may be en route to a first lifetime triumph.

Evanora comes into the second $40,000 OSS division (race two) as a recent winner, having captured an Ohio Fair Stake on June 24 at Ottawa in a front-stepping 2:06.4. That triumph saw this daughter of Pilgrims Taj draw away from her rivals by ten lengths for trainer Chris Beaver, who conditions the filly for Sandra Burnett. The Ron Burke-conditioned Leavinonajettrain scored a winning qualifier in 2:02 at The Meadows on June 25 and will leave from post four, while Rose Run Runaway won her Northfield qualifier on that same day, timed in 2:02.4 with trainer Ammon Hershberger in the sulky.

The third $40,000 OSS division (race three) of 2-year-old trotters features a pair of speedy fillies in Hoorah Hoorah and Kestrel. Hoorah Hoorah, a daughter of Chip Chip Hooray conditioned by Kelly O’Donnell, recorded a 2:01.2 mark on June 25 in a Meadows qualifier, while the Triumphant Caviar lass Kestrel scored a winning Scioto Downs qualifier on June 22 in 2:01.1. Precious Love, from the rail, also poses a threat after her June 25 winning 2:03.4 qualifier at Northfield Park.

Soft Power, in the fourth $40,000 OSS division (race five), appears consistent off just a pair of starts. The Triumphant Caviar daughter, who is trained by Chris Beaver, posted a 2:04.1 winning clocking in her June 10 Delaware qualifier, before finishing second on June 24 at Ottawa in an Ohio Fair Stake, where she was timed in 2:08.4 with her trainer at the lines. Trainer-driver Ammon Hershberger sends out Eye Just Expect It, a daughter of Trainforthefuture who posted a wire-to-wire, 2:02 victory on June 18 at Northfield, while Shut Up And Dance, who qualified in a winning 2:00.2 at The Meadows on June 11 before breaking in her pari-mutuel debut on June 24 at Northfield, will look to make amends from the rail for trainer Dirk Simpson.

Finally, Still Sizzling appears to be doing just that as she comes into the fifth $40,000 OSS division (race 14) with a pair of back-to-back victories to her credit. The daughter of Trainforthefuture first posted a 2:16.1 clocking on June 9 at Paulding in an Ohio Fair Stake before scoring a 2:03.4 winning qualifier at Northville on June 17. She is trained, driven and co-owned by Dale Decker. Rose Run Rachel comes into this race with a pair of even qualifiers to her credit — both taken at Northfield — the first on June 11, timed in 2:05.1 and the second on June 25, clocked in 2:04. Rose Run Rachel is a daughter of Trainforthefuture who is conditioned and co-owned by Ray Crawford and Suanne Kochilla.

Freshman pacing and trotting fillies will mix it up again in the second leg of OSS action for their respective divisions on July 25 at Scioto Downs. The third leg will be held on Aug. 21 at Northfield Park and the fourth leg will be raced on Sept. 4 at Scioto Downs. The $225,000 championship events for all the 2- and 3-year-old divisions will be held on Saturday (Sept. 12) during Scioto Downs’ Super Night.