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

Northfield, OH — Eleven $40,000 divisions of Ohio Sires Stakes (OSS) for 2-year-old colts and geldings were contested on Friday evening at Northfield Park. This was the second of a four-part series for Ohio-bred pacing and trotting colts and geldings.

JJ Zamaiko photo

Kanhaka set a track record 1:58 for 2-year-colt & gelding trotters in OSS Friday night at Northfield Pard.

Dave Palone, who set a track record of 1:58.1 with Cool Colby in 2009, broke his own record with Kanthaka in the fifth OSS division, when he steered that colt to a 1:58 triumph.

Kanthaka—who is trained by Chris Beaver—is a son of Triumphant Caviar– Elena owned in partnership by Beaver and Jamestown, OH resident Wilbur Lang, who also bred the youngster.

After following We Love Caviar (Dan Noble) through a first quarter clocking of :29, Kanthaka took the lead and never looked back, trotting through panels of :59.1 and 1:28.3 before storming home for his third consecutive victory and his second in OSS contests. Wegoferdaprize (Aaron Merriman) was second, while Another Breath (Sandy Beatty) was third.

Trainer Scott Cox harnessed a formidable pair of trotters who won both the first and second divisions, using the same racing tactics.

War College, with Sam Schillaci in the sulky, used a pocket-trip to win the first division easily in 2:00.4. The bay gelding followed the pace-setting Lionbacker Kidd (Aaron Merriman) through fractions of :30, 1:00.4 and 1:31.1 before assuming the lead to nail down his first career win in two tries. Lionbacker Kidd held on for second, while Caviar Cruiser nailed third.

Owned by the Parent Racing Stable LLC of Holland, OH and G Peters of Akron, OH, War College is a gelded son of Trainforthefuture-Secretary of State-Malabar Man and was bred by Steve Stewart of Kentucky.

In the second trotting division Were Gone, with Ronnie Wrenn, Jr. in the sulky, sat behind the leading Lone Valley Sam (Chris Page) through opening splits of :29.2, 1:00 and 1:30 before pulling and garnering the victory in 2:00. The win was his first in three tries and pushed his career earnings to $23,680 for owner Larry Riffe of Alexandria, Ohio. Bill Troyer bred Were Gone, a son of And Away We Go-Panny Lane-Lindy Lane.

MJB Got Faith (Peter Wrenn) scored his second straight OSS victory in the third division. The won of Trainerforthefuture-Imageofasweetgirl-Striking Sahbra posted a 2:01.3 clocking for trainer Steve Carter and owner Breana Carsey of Connersville, IN. The youngster won in wire-to-wire fashion for Wrenn and now has $40,000 in his career coffers. He was bred by the GBW Breeding Farms, Inc. of Ohio.

Mainstreet Party (Don Harmon) was second with Mickey Mouse (Kurt Sugg) third among the field of eight.

Overdressed and driver Kurt Sugg captured the fourth OSS trotting division (Race 9) in 2:00 for trainer Marty Wollam, who co-owns the youngster along with Dale Sweat and G&B Racing.

The son of Full Count-Mardi Gras-Balanced Image led at every post, tripping the timer in :30, 1:01.3 and 1:31.4 before winning just his second career start. Overdressed now has $24,800 in his career bankroll. Triumphant’s Chip (Peter Wrenn) was second and Hello Pilgrim (Kayne Kauffman) was third in the six horse field.

JJ Zamaiko photo

Trayvon took the opening division for 2-year-old colt & gelding pacers in 1:56 in OSS Friday night at Northfield Park.

Owner-breeder-trainer Brenda Teague’s Trayvon got the pacing divisions started in a big way when he captured the first one handily in 1:56, leading at every post. The son of I’m Gorgeous-Sheisaknockout-Badland’s Hanover now has $30,000 in his career coffers. Montrell Teague, Brenda’s nephew, was at the lines behind Trayvon, who bested seven rivals through panels of :29, :59.1 and 1:28.2. Standing Proud (Kayne Kauffman) got up for place honors.

Friskie Cruiser took the second pacing division for driver Chris Page, stopping the clock in 1:57.1 for the one mile test. This son of Feelin Friskie-Corner Cruiser-Yankee Cruiser garnered his second straight OSS victory, the first taken at Scioto Downs on July 4 in 1:55.3. He was bred and is owned by Stephen Sexton of Xenia, Ohio. Winna Winna (Kyle Ater) was second with Rocky’s World (Jeff Nisonger) third.

Docdor Friskie and Peter Wrenn led from gate to wire to take the third pacing division in 1:54.3. The bay ridgling is a son of Feelin Friskie-Lady Shuffle-Cam’s Card Shark and is owned by Dorothy Miller of Delphos, OH, and trained by Melanie Wrenn. Smoke Up Johnny (Greg Grismore) was second with Feelin Lucky (Aaron Merriman) third. Bred by Midland Acres, Docdor Friskie now has $23,200 in career earnings.

Primo Giovanni got up in the final strides to win the fourth OSS pacing division in 1:55.2 with Chris Page in the sulky. The son of Big Bad John-JK Reunited-Bettor’s Delight was bred and is owned by Carl T. Howard of Powell, OH and hails from the powerful Virgil Morgan, Jr. stable. The win was the second in OSS competition for the youngster, who now has $40,000 in career earnings. Primo Giovanni followed the pace-setting Gotmoneyinmypocket (Ronnie Wrenn, Jr.) through opening splits of :28.2, :59 and 1:27.4 before stealing the race with a game first-over move in the stretch. Onefinejimmerjohn (Dan Noble) got up for third.

Noble then steered Nothin Fancy to victory in the fifth OSS pacing division for trainer Fred Huff Jr., who owns the black gelding in partnership with John Fairchild of Portsmouth, OH. Nothin Fancy stopped the timer in 1:55.1, with Mr Wiggle Pants (Kayne Kauffman) second and Myell’s Rockstar (Aaron Merriman) third.

The son of Metropolitan-JL Cruise The Nite-Yankee Cruiser was bred by Reeves Barnhouse of Pennsylvania and has $41,334 in his bankroll. He won his first leg of OSS competition on July 4 at Scioto Downs in 1:56 and an Ohio Fair Stake (OFS) on July 17 at Wellston, OH.

Noble was in the winner’s circle for the final OSS division, this time with his own trainee, World Of Gaming. The World Of Rocknroll-Theresastorytoit colt stopped the timer in 1:55.2, his third career victory, in wire-to-wire fashion. Owned by Stephen Sexton of Xenia, OH, World Of Gaming was bred by Ohio’s Mel Hagemeyer and now has $26,132 in career earnings. Love Tap Hanover (Dave Palone) was second, with Whiskey Friskie (Aaron Merriman) third.