by Kimberly Rinker, OSDF Admnistrator

Columbus, OH — Thirty-six freshman pacers will wage war in Ohio Sires Stakes contests on Monday evening (Aug. 27) at Northfield Park. A total of 14 fillies will battle in two $50,000 divisions, while 22 colts spar in three $40,000 divisions. First race post time is 6 p.m.

Ohio-registered stallions represented in these five events include the ill-fated Dragon Again, with eight youngsters (two fillies and six colts); three fillies and three colts from Ohio sire Pet Rock; four freshmen colts by Western Vintage; and four youngsters from McArdle (two fillies and two colts.)

JJ Zamaiko photo

High On Paydaze is undefeated in OSS action.

The stallion Yankee Cruiser has two fillies and one colt competing, while Big Bad John is represented by two colts and one filly. Nob Hill High and Rockin Amadeus each have one colt and one filly racing, while Allamerican Native, Believeinbruiser, Palone Ranger and The Panderosa are represented by one youngster each.

The Buckeye State’s pacing maestro Brian Brown sends out five 2-year-old pacing fillies, including Final Offer, a Rockin Amadeus lass who won OSS leg three in 1:55.2. She has $36,300 in earnings for owners Country Club Acres, Aws Stables and Joe Sbrocco. Ronnie Wrenn, Jr., drives from post six in the first division (race three).

Brown will also cinch the girth on Mi Nina Bonita, a Yankee Cruiser filly in this same division, for R. D. Siegelman, R.I. Horowitz and J. P. Vasquez. A winner of $20,000 to date, Mi Nina Bonita will be trying for her first career victory with Trace Tetrick at the lines from the rail.

Be Not Nobody, another Brown trainee, leaves from the three-hole in this same division with Chris Page in the sulky. This brown daughter by McArdle has amassed $15,300 thus far for D. Robinson, R. Mondillo, RBH Ventures and Joe Sbrocco and is looking to break her maiden in here as well.

Carmen Ohio and High Reward are Brown’s contestants in the second OSS filly division (race five). The former starts from post six with Ryan Stahl aboard, while the latter will leave from post seven with Ronnie Wrenn, Jr. at the helm. Owned by Country Club Acres, Joe Sbrocco and L&H Management Services, High Reward won OSS leg three in 1:53.1. This Yankee Cruiser filly sports a hefty bankroll of $55,075 for her connections.

Carmen Ohio, a daughter of The Panderosa, is owned by breeder Milton Leeman, S. Manning, B. Meizlish and W. Calvert. She won her first OSS leg in 1:55.2 and was a snappy second in both legs two and three. She has $47,500 in her coffers from two wins and two seconds in five lifetime starts.

Rylee Roo, a Pet Rock lass conditioned by Steve Carter for breeder/owner Steven Price, looks like the one to beat in this second OSS filly contest (race five). She was second to High Reward in OSS leg three and won leg two at Northfield Park in 1:53.3. She’s amassed $49,375 thus far in just four lifetime starts and gets Aaron Merriman in the sulky from post three.

Sugar And Spite won OSS leg two in 1:55.2 at Northfield Park and was third in OSS legs one and three for owner Tom Lehmann. This Pet Rock lass, who is trained by Mary Birkhold, has $38,852 in earnings from two wins and three thirds in six starts. Tyler Smith guides the filly from the five-hole.

Brian Brown also sends out seven youngsters in the colt divisions, including the undefeated speedster High On Paydaze. Chris Page will steer the favorite from the rail in the second OSS division (race six). This homebred son of Nob Hill High has swept all three $40,000 OSS legs to date, as well as a $36,800 Ohio Fair Stake on July 28 at Scioto Downs. He took his lifetime mark of 1:53.1 en route to his OSS leg one triumph on July 4 at Scioto for owners Scott Hagemeyer, R. Mondillo and D. Robinson, and has $78,400 in his career bank account.

Rose Run Ulysses, the gorgeous chestnut son of Western Vintage, conditioned by Kim Dailey, will try to stop High On Paydaze’s quest for a fourth OSS triumph. Owned by Dailey in partnership with Carl and Melanie Atley, Rose Run Ulysses won OSS leg one in 1:52.2 and leg two in 1:54.4 before finishing third in leg three. He also captured a $36,800 Ohio Fair Stake at Scioto on July 28, in 1:53.4. The winner of $63,200 starts from post three with Trace Tetrick in the bike.

Authentic Hanover is another in this same competitive division with a solid shot at victory. Owned by Hutchinson Harness, M.J. Thompson and trainer Dustin Arledge, this Western Vintage colt won OSS legs one (in 1:53.3) and two (in 1:53.4). He has $47,944 in his bankroll with three wins in five starts and gets Tyler Smith, leaving from post five.

Leg one winner Gold Digger King starts from post two with Kayne Kauffman in the sulky. This Pet Rock gelding scored that victory in 1:52.4, then was second and fourth respectively in OSS legs two and three for trainer Scott Mogan. This homebred winner of $42,400 is owned by Linda Van Camp.

Dislocator, a son of Big Bad John conditioned by Brown, won OSS leg three in 1:53.3. Owned by J. Ridder, S. Davis, S. Sopronyi and VIP Stable, Dislocator was third in leg one and second in leg two to Authentic Hanover. The winner of $26,640 lifetime starts from post two with Page at the lines in the first OSS colt division (race four).

Stablemate Rock Candy hails from post four in this same race for driver Ronnie Wrenn, Jr. This Pet Rock colt has finished in the bridesmaid’s role in all three of his OSS legs, but has earned $48,400 thus far for owners Country Club Acres, Joe Sbrocco and Richard Lombardo.

Doo Wop West heads up the final OSS colt division (race nine) with Aaron Merriman driving from post two for trainer Dirk Simpson and owner Lawrence Crawford. This Western Vintage gelding won OSS leg three in 1:53.2 at Scioto Downs on Aug. 10, using a :27.3 late brush to nail down his second lifetime victory. He has $24,224 earned from two wins in four career starts.

Horses in the Ohio Sires Stakes garner points earned via their finish in their respective divisions, with the top nine deemed eligible to the $275,000 Championships on Sept. 8 at Scioto Downs. Going into the fourth leg of this series, here are the top point earners in the colt division: High On Paydaze (153); Rose Run Ulysses (115); Authentic Hanover (103); See You In Tuscany (103); Dislocator (90); Gold Digger King (85); Rock Candy (78); Black Smile (58); and Doo Wop West (51).

The top 2-year-old fillies in their division are as follows: Queen Of The Pride (103); Carmen Ohio (103); High Reward (86); Rylee Roo (78); Twinsburg (78) Sugar And Spite (77); Final Offer (61); Lofty Beach (53); and Mi Nina Bonita (53).

Ohio Sires Stakes action continues Tuesday afternoon at Scioto Downs, with six divisions for freshman trotting colts and fillies. First race post time is 2 p.m.