by Dean A. Hoffman, for the Ohio State Racing Commission

Columbus, OH — The best Ohio-sired 2-year-old trotters and pacers of the 2012 season are ready to roll this season in hopes of retaining their championship form. They are aiming at the first legs of the Ohio Sires Stakes the first weekend in May at Lebanon Raceway.

Dean A. Hoffman photo

Cating Around banked $96,200 as a freshman in 2012.

Cating Around, winner of the Ohio Sires Stakes final for frosh pacing fillies last year, got her first start of the season last weekend in the elimination for the James K. Hackett Memorial Pace at Lebanon. She started from the outside post eight for driver Chris Page and trainer Brian Brown, but was unstoppable in the final half-mile as she cruised to an 8-1/2 length victory in 1:57.2. She had already raced in a couple qualifying races to tighten her up.

Cating Around is sure to be a heavy favorite in the Hackett Memorial for fillies on Saturday at Lebanon. Her starts in the elimination and final of the Hackett will give her two races over the Lebanon oval before she faces Ohio Sires Stakes rivals in May.

Feelin Lika Winner, champion freshman male pacer in Ohio in 2012, signaled his readiness last Tuesday with an impressive 6-1/2 length win in a 1:59.1 qualifier at Lebanon Raceway. The bay gelding was sent right to the front by driver Kayne Kauffman and he led at every station while winning under wraps.

Trainer and co-owner Scott Mogan starts his champion pacer in another qualifier at Scioto Downs on Wednesday before sending him to the Ohio Sires Stakes opener at Lebanon on May 4.

Trottin On Over was the champion freshman male trotter and he made his debut Monday night (April 22) against older horses at Northfield Park. He drew post six and was well back for most of the mile and finished sixth. Still, his final quarter was faster than any other horse in the field.

Contessa Leigh was the standout among 2-year-old trotting fillies in 2012 in Ohio, and she won her first qualifier of the season a week ago at Northfield Park in a solid 2:00.4 for trainer-driver Marty Wollam, who is also a co-owner. Wollam would like to get another qualifying race into her before shipping her to Lebanon for the opening leg of the Ohio Sires Stakes.