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

Columbus, OH — The 2015 Ohio Sire Stakes season for 3-year-old colt and filly trotters and pacers kicks off this weekend at Miami Valley Raceway in Lebanon, Ohio, with a post time of 6:30 p.m.

Ohio Sire Stakes nominations for 3-year-olds are up in the pacing divisions from 2014, with 44 colts nominated this year as opposed to 27 in 2014. Some 37 sophomore filly pacers have been nominated to the OSS this season, up from 34 in 2014. As well, in the trotting ranks, 57 sophomore fillies were named to the program, up from just 40 in 2014. Curiously the 3-year-old colt trotters had just 48 nominees this year, as opposed to 54 in this same division in 2014.

Five divisions for distaff sophomores — two pacing and three trotting — will be contested Friday night (May 1), while two bouts each for 3-year-old trotting and pacing colts and geldings will take place Saturday night (May 2) at the five-eighths mile venue.

The Ohio Sire Stakes feature four legs offering a $40,000 minimum purse each and a $225,000 Championship in each of the 2- and 3-year-old divisions, according to gait and gender.

Bell Flower, Ohio’s 2-Year-Old Pacing Filly of the Year in 2014 and a winner of $164,336 to date with seven wins in eight career starts, heads up a field of nine fillies in the first OSS division (race seven). This daughter of Fly Fly Buckeye-Our Lady Countess was trained by Jim Arledge Jr. during her 2014 campaign and recently joined the Virgil Morgan Jr. stable. She was a multiple OSS and Ohio Breeders Stake winner as a freshman with a top mark of Q1:54.4 taken at Scioto Downs.

The Brian Brown-trained Friskie Lil Devil — who captured her $200,000 OSS Championship at Scioto Downs in 1:55 in her final freshman outing last fall — is poised to challenge Bell Flower. A winner of $196,266 lifetime, the daughter of Feelin Friskie-Devils Desire most recently won the $38,000 James K. Hackett Memorial at Miami Valley Raceway in a career best 1:55.4 on April 24 in rein to Ronnie Wrenn Jr.

In the second OSS division (race 11) for 3-year-old pacing fillies, Sectionlinefriskie vies from post one for driver Chris Page and trainer Steve Bauder. This daughter of Feelin Friskie earned $62,991 at two, taking a mark of 1:56 at Scioto Downs en route to her lone win last season that came in a $40,000 OSS leg on Aug. 22.

Sunrise Nibbles, last season’s 2-Year-Old Trotting Filly of the Year, headlines the third OSS division (race none) of sophomore diagonally-gaited lasses. This daughter of Iron Duke-Sweethomeourbama earned $196,543 as a freshman, stopping the timer in 1:58.1 en route to an Ohio Breeders Stake victory on Aug. 8 at Scioto Downs. Trainer Chris Beaver will harness this fiery filly.

Lisa Jane, a winner of $110,125 lifetime and OSS winner in a career best 1:57.2 at Scioto Downs in 2014, starts from post five in the second (race five) division for trainer Scott Cox and driver Ryan Stahl.

The Dan Ater-trained Chip Girl, a daughter of Chip Chip Hooray-Jailhouse Bling who won two starts and $30,230 as a freshman, will have Kyle Ater in the sulky in the first (race three) OSS contest.

On Saturday night, Neely’s Messenger, Ohio’s 2014 Horse of the Year and 2-Year-Old Trotting Colt of 2014, headlines a field of seven trotting colts in race five. This son of Neely Dunn-Fun Message was the richest colt in his freshman class, winning seven of eight starts and earning $215,945. The Triple Crown winner scored victories in the OSS, Ohio Fair Stakes and Ohio Breeders Championship, taking a career mark of 1:58.2 at Scioto Downs on Sept. 27 en route to victory in the $200,000 OSS Championship. He was trained and driven last year by Marty Wollam and this year shifts to the Al Mankee III Stable, making his 2015 debut Saturday.

The second OSS (race nine) division for sophomore trotters has the Jeff Cox-conditioned Kick A Lot vying from post one for driver Kurt Sugg. This son of Deep Chip-Mac’s Dream won four of eight races at two, with earnings of $139,401. He scored a mark of 1:59 when triumphing in a $40,000 OSS race at Northfield Park on Aug. 15.

Ohio’s 2-Year-Old Pacing Colt of 2014 — Western Coby — takes center stage in the second (race 11) OSS event for laterally-gaited sophomores. This son of Western Spirit-Cole By A Knows earned $142,397 as a freshman after winning seven Ohio Fair Stakes and a single OSS, culminating with his 1:53.3 victory in the OSS final at Scioto Downs on Sept. 27.

In the first OSS (race seven) contest, Nobles Finesse p,2,1:56.2 ($100,759) goes head-to-head against Rock N Randall p,3,1:56.4 ($100,433) and Gray Camo p,2,1:54.4 ($96,229). Nobles Finesse was a 2014 OSS winner, while Rock N Randall captured a 2014 Ohio Breeders Championship at Delaware and an Ohio Fair Stake. Gray Camo won both a 2014 OSS and Fair Stakes and was second in the Ohio Breeders Championship.

Scioto Downs, which opens its summer meeting on Tuesday (May 5), with a special post time of 2 p.m., will feature the second leg of Ohio Sire Stakes for 3-year-old colt trotters and pacers on Saturday (June 6), while Northfield Park will offer a second leg of Ohio Sire Stakes for sophomore trotting and pacing fillies on Friday (June 12). Post time for all evening races is 6:30 pm.

On Friday (July 17) Northfield Park will host leg three of Ohio Sire Stakes for 3-year-old colt trotters and pacers, while sophomore filly trotters and pacers will vie in leg three of Ohio Sire Stakes on Friday (Aug. 14) at Cleveland’s half-mile oval.

The fourth leg of Ohio Sire Stakes for sophomores will see fillies of both gaits battle on Friday (Aug. 28), while trotting and pacing colts alike will go postward on Saturday (Aug. 29) — all at Scioto Downs.

Scioto Downs’ Super Night, set for Saturday (Sept. 12), will feature $225,000 Ohio Sire Stakes Championships for all 2- and 3-year-old contestants distinguished via age, gait and gender. Please note: on page 3 of the OSS Nomination Booklet, it was erroneously reported that the Championships would feature a $250,000 purse. The correct amount should read $225,000.