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

Northfield, OH — Fifteen divisions of Ohio Sires Stakes for 2-year-old colts and fillies of both gaits will be contested on Friday night (Aug. 21) at Northfield Park. Post time is 6 p.m. (EDT).

A total of 125 freshman Standardbreds — 58 trotters and 67 pacers — passed the Northfield Park entry box to vie for $40,000 in each division. Seven races of diagonally-gaited 2-year-olds (four colt and three filly heats) are set, while eight events were drawn for the side-wheelers (four colt and four filly heats).

Pacing Colts
Amongst the pacing colts, Primo Giovanni, Nothing Fancy, Mr Wiggle Pants, Trayvon, Big Bad Cam and Whiskey Friskie all appear poised for triumphs.

Primo Giovanni will be trying for his fourth consecutive pari-mutuel victory in the first OSS division (race six) for driver Chris Page. The son of Big Bad John-JK Reunited was bred and is owned by Carl T. Howard and hails from the powerful Virgil Morgan Jr. stable.

Primo Giovanni won an $18,500 Ohio Breeders Stake on Aug. 13 at Scioto Downs in a career best 1:54.2 and before that captured an Ohio Fair Stake on Aug. 6 at Scioto, timed in 1:55.1. He has back-to-back victories in OSS competition — on July 24 at Northfield (1:55.2) and on July 4 at Scioto (1:56.2).

Nothin Fancy is in this same division, with Kyle Ater driving for trainer Fred Huff Jr., who owns the black gelding in partnership with John Fairchild. Nothin Fancy has a quartet of victories to his credit in his last four starts as well, with wins coming in an Aug. 6 State Fair Stakes at Scioto (1:53.3); in an OSS at Northfield on July 24 (1:55.1); in an Ohio Fair Stake on July 17 at Welston (2:05.1); and at Scioto Downs on July 4 in an OSS (1:56). The son of Metropolitan-JL Cruise The Nite was bred by Reeves Barnhouse and has $60,009 in his bankroll.

Owner-breeder-trainer Brenda Teague’s Trayvon will also vie in this division, with her nephew Montrell Teague in the sulky. The son of I’m Gorgeous-Sheisaknockout has $39,162 in his career coffers and won his OSS division on July 24 at Northfield Park in near wire-to-wire fashion commandingly in 1:56.

Mr Wiggle Pants looks formidable in the second division of pacing colts (race 11). Trained by Jim Mulinix and driven by Kayne Kauffman, this son of Mr Wiggles-Shani Pants has two wins and four seconds in six career starts, with earnings of $39,220. He has an OHFS victory to his credit from Aug. 1 at Northfield, when he posted a 1:57 clocking and finished a strong second to the aforementioned Nothin Fancy in that OSS on July 24 at Northfield.

Big Bad Cam — the fastest of any Ohio-bred youngster to date with a 1:53.2 clocking in his OSS and career debut on July 4 — will be trying for a repeat performance in the third division (race 13) of pacing youngsters. Peter Wrenn will be in the sulky behind the bay gelding who is conditioned by his wife, trainer Melanie Wrenn, for Dorothy Miller. Big Bad Cam was bred by Dan and Robert Kuhns and is by Big Bad John, out of Camturo.

The fourth and final pacing division (race 15) for OSS youngsters features nine rivals going up against Whiskey Friskie, who will be looking for a repeat of his July 4 Scioto Downs score in 1:57.1. The son of Feelin Friskie — a John Melsheimer trainee — has $29,080 in career earnings and will have Aaron Merriman in the sulky. Midland Acres bred Whiskey Friskie, who is owned by Karen McGraw.

Pacing Fillies
Four divisions of pacing fillies will vie, beginning with race 2. Miss Me Yet, another Brenda Teague trainee, is looking for her second career victory. The daughter of I’m Gorgeous-Live Inspired hasn’t missed the board in three career starts, with earnings of $28,800 for owner George Teague. This speedy filly captured her previous OSS test on July 25 at Scioto Downs in 1:53.4.

John’s Sunny Girl, a daughter of Big Bad John-Sunshine State hails from post six in the second OSS division (race four) for driver Greg Grismore. Owned by the Parent Racing Stable, John’s Sunny Girl has amassed $44,625 in her brief career via three triumphs. She last won an OBS on Aug. 12 at Scioto Downs in a lifetime best 1:55, and had previously won the first leg of this series on July 3 at Scioto Downs in 1:55.4. Doug Hinklin trains the filly, who was bred by Midland Acres.

Awakening headlines the third division (race eight) of OSS freshman fillies. Trained by Mike Polhamus and owned and bred by Marjorie Polhamus, this daughter of Feelin Friskie-Sidewalk Sleeper romped to a 1:57, wire-to-wire victory at Northfield on July 3 in the first leg of this series, and last won an OHFS on Aug. 11 at Urbana in 2:04. She also has another pair of OFS victories on her resume, having won at Paulding on June 9 and at Ottawa on July 23. Kayne Kauffman will be in the sulky for this winner of $24,786 lifetime.

My Tweed Heart, a winner of $42,250 also vies in this division, with Ronnie Wrenn Jr. in the sulky. This daughter of Manhardt-Tweedle D captured her first OSS leg handily in 1:59.1 at Northfield on July 3, and most recently won an OSF in 1:54 on Aug. 5 at Scioto Downs. Owned by Carl Atley, My Tweed Heart was bred by Stanley Swango III.

Queen Ann M, who was bred by Jay Mossbarger, starts from post one for driver Chris Page and trainer Mike Roth in the fourth pacing filly contest (race 14). This daughter of Big Bad John-Full Fledged stopped the clock in 1:56.4 in a come-from-behind effort with Page at the lines on July 3 at Northfield in OSS leg one. Alan Keith owns the speedy bay filly who has $51,125 in her coffers.

Trotting Colts
Thirty-one trotting colts and geldings will battle in four OSS divisions Friday night, including the standout colt Kanthaka in the fourth division (race 12). Trainer Chris Beaver harnesses the Triumphant Caviar colt, who will be steered by Dave Palone. A winner of $65,250 in his brief career, Kanthaka won his OSS test on July 4 at Scioto Downs by nearly eight lengths in 1:58.3, and followed that up with a 1:58 triumph in his second OSS test on July 24 at Northfield. His last win was in an Aug. 6 OSF division at Scioto Downs, when he tripped the timer in 1:58.1. Nearly all of his four career wins in as many starts have come in wire-to-wire fashion. He was bred by Wilbur Stoll and is co-owned by Stoll and Beaver.

MJB Got Faith will also be trying for his third career win in division one (race one). Peter Wrenn drives for trainer Steve Carter. MJB Got Faith won his OSS division in 2:00.4 at Scioto Downs on July 4, before taking his second OSS on July 24 at Northfield in 2:01.3. A winner of $40,000 lifetime, MJB Got Faith was bred by the GBW Breeding Farms, Inc. and is owned by Breana Carsey.

Lionbacker Kidd, a Lionhunter gelding, vies for trainer Joseph Kramp in the second division (race three). This youngster finished second in the first leg of this series at Scioto Downs on July 4, timed in 2:00.1. He was bred by John Miller, is owned by Jeffrey Kidd, and has $34,873 in career earnings.

Mickey Moose will have trainer Kurt Sugg in the bike in the third division (race 10). This son of Triumphant Caviar-Chippednstrawberry is looking for her third straight victory. Bred by Richard Mairs and Shari Starner, the winner of $17,544 lifetime captured an OHFS on Aug. 11 in 2:09.1, then posted a 1:58.2 clocking at Scioto Downs on Aug. 13 in a $14,700 OBS. She is owned by Dean Davis and Ashley Dunn.

Trotting Fillies
A trio of divisions for trotting fillies sees $70,900 winner Kestrel marching forward in race five. The daughter of Triumphant Caviar — who was bred and is co-owned by Wilbur Stoll and trainer Chris Beaver — is three-for-three in her brief career. Aaron Merriman drives this solidly-gaited distaff from post seven. She has won both of her previous OSS legs — with a lifetime best 1:57.3 clocking at Scioto Downs on July 25.

Merriman and Beaver return with the fast but erratic Kerfuffle Cookie in the second division (race seven). A winner of $40,000, this daughter of Chip Chip Hooray-Minor Skirmish won her OSS race on July 25 in a lifetime best 1:58 after scoring in 2:00.1 in the first OSS leg on July 3, but has been plagued with breaking issues since. Bred by Lmn Bred Stables Inc., Kerfuffle Cookie is owned by Synerco Ventures, Inc.

Beaver will also harness Evanora in the final trotting division for fillies (race nine). This Pilgrim’s Taj lass has two wins in four career starts and $21,550 for owner–breeder Sandra Burnette. She has yet to show her previous winning form after capturing her OSS on July 3 at Northfield in 2:01.