Northfield, OH – Three of the Grand Circuit’s brightest stars in the sophomore pacing ranks are set to do battle in Wednesday’s (Aug. 27) lone $100,000 Ohio Sires Stakes event at MGM Northfield Park.
With combined 2025 earnings of $695,430, Swingtown, Sippinonsearoc, and Rick Wink have stamped themselves as three of the top tiered horses in their division, each having successes on the Grand Circuit stage.
Swingtown (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) and Rick Wink (Chris Page) recently visited MGM Northfield Park for the $300,000 Grade 2 Carl Milstein Memorial.
After being parked through most of a testing :25.4 first quarter, Swingtown was able to hang on for third, but didn’t have enough fire left in the tank to catch the winner Prince Hal Hanover or second place finisher Twisted Destiny.
Rick Wink’s made a break before the start in the Milstein, making him a non-factor.
Both of Burke’s stars shipped to Pocono for the Hempt Memorial at Pocono. Rick Wink redeemed himself and finished a game second, while Swingtown finished fourth.
The pair will have another stablemate, Sippinonsearoc, to compete against on Wednesday. Hall of Fame driver, Yannick Gingras, is arriving from Lexington to drive the world champion.
After finishing fourth in the Adios, Sippinonsearoc shipped to Kentucky where the Downbytheseaside colt reeled off two impressive sub-1:49 victories. After a uneventful start to his sophomore campaign, he has continued to mature. He has posted three victories in nine starts this season.
An Ohio Sires Stakes champion at two, Sippinonsearoc is currently sitting tied for tenth in points and needs a big effort to advance to the Final.
The trio will be challenged by five other strong competitors on Wednesday.
Downbythewater (Chris Lems), a $110,000 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale purchase, has earned $77,425 in his 3-year-old season. Downbythewater’s most recent wins came at MGM Northfield Park where he convincingly won against conditioned company. In his most recent start, he was finished second in the Ohio Sires Stakes at Scioto Downs and was race timed in 1:49.3.
SS Druidstone (Kurt Sugg) had a lightly raced 2-year-old season, but strongly developed into a tough 3-year-old. The son of Downbytheseaside has four wins in twenty-two starts this season and $52,800 in the bank. Most recently, SS Druidstone finished third in the Buckeye Stallion Series at Scioto Downs.
Ohohoh Im On Fire (Austin Hanners) was victorious in the Parshall at Greenville (OH) in his last start. Despite being unraced at two, the son of Catch The Fire has put together an impressive resume in 2025. Ohohoh Im On Fire has six wins in fourteen starts as a 3-year-old.
Extra Suds (Aaron Merriman) was an impressive 1:48.4 victor of the Buckeye Stallion Series at Scioto Downs last week after a disappointing eighth in the $300,000 Grade 2 Carl Milstein Memorial.
Twin B High Tide (Anthony MacDonald) is making just his fifth start of the season. He finished third in a qualifier two weeks ago, which marked his return to the races. He has two wins in four starts this year.
Leg five of the Ohio Sires Stakes is the final opportunity for the sophomore pacers to earn points before the Final at Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway on September 27.
Post time on Wednesday is 6:00 p.m.