by Kimberly Rinker, OSDF Administrator

Northfield, OH — This year’s Ohio Sires Stakes 2-year-old pacing colt division is shaping up to be one of the most exciting, with leg one victors visiting the winner’s circle in four $40,000 leg two divisions on Monday (July 16) at Northfield Park.

Rose Run Ulysses, a striking chestnut son of Western Vintage-Alcyon Semalu captured the first OSS division as the 4-5 favorite in 1:54.4 with Danny Noble at the controls, besting 7-2 rival Black Smile (Chris Page) by three-quarters of a length, with 90-1 longshot Big Pocket Teen (Josh Sutton) garnering third-place honors, nearly eight lengths back.

Trained and co-owned by Kimberly Dailey, along with partners Carl and Melanie Atley, Rose Run Ulysses had won leg one on June 4 at Scioto Downs in a snappy 1:52.2. Bred by the Rose Run Farm, the gelding’s career earnings now stand at $20,000.

Authentic Hanover picked up where he left off at Scioto Downs on June 4, when he captured leg one in 1:53.3, this time scoring his leg two triumph in 1:53.4 for driver Tyler Smith as the 4-5 favorite, besting 8-5 Dislocator (Chris Page) by 5-1/4 lengths. Petacular Rock, a 70-1 longshot, got up for third with Jack Dailey driving.

The Western Vintage-Armbro Amoretto colt, who was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms, is owned by Hutchison Harness, Mary Thompson and trainer Dustin Arledge and sports a $45,000 bankroll.

JJ Zamaiko photo

High On Paydaze rolled to a 1:54.2 victory with Ronnie Wrenn Jr. in the sulky.

By the time the third OSS division went postward, the heavens opened, unveiling a harsh downpour that lasted long enough for leg one winner High On Paydaze to roll to a 1:54.2 victory with Ronnie Wrenn Jr. in the sulky.

The even-money homebred son of Nob Hill High-Myell finished 4-1/4 lengths ahead of 5-2 Gold Digger King (Kayne Kauffman), who had also won his leg one division on June 4 at Scioto Downs. Rock N Randy V, who finished eighth in leg one, was a solid third at odds of 19-1 for Aaron Merriman.

Owned by Scott Hagemeyer, Robert Mondillo and Donald Robinson, High On Paydaze upped his career earnings to $40,000.

See You In Tuscany made every pole a winning one, finishing first over a sloppy track in 1:57.3 to nail down his second consecutive victory in OSS competition. Driven by Anthony MacDonald for trainer Jason McGinnis, the son of We Will See-Mcdance Desire was never headed throughout the mile, and held off the hard-trying 2-5 Rock Candy (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) by a neck at the wire. Mike Wilder steered 40-1 longshot Touch Of Dragon to third place honors.

See You In Tuscany, who was bred by Mark Maroletti, has $42,660 in career earnings for the Canadian-based Thestable Tuscany Group.

After the first two legs of the Ohio Sires Stakes for this division, Authentic Hanover, High On Paydaze Rose Run Ulysses and See You In Tuscany are the top point-getters. Horses in this series accumulate points based on where they finish in each leg, with the top nine point-earners after the four legs have been completed garnering automatic starting berths into the $275,000 final, set for Sept.8 at Scioto Downs.