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

Columbus, OH — Eleven fields of Ohio Sires Stakes freshman will go postward Friday night (July 24) at Northfield Park, all vying for a purse of $40,000 in each division. Post time is approximately 6 p.m. at the “Home of the Flying Turns.”

Six pacing and five trotting divisions will feature a host of Ohio-bred colts and geldings returning for the second leg of this four-leg series. A total of 86 youngsters have been entered, 37 trotters and 49 pacers, with 11 newcomers joining the series for the first time.

Lionbacker Kidd, a Lionhunter gelding, looks to be the favorite in the first division (race one) of seven trotters for driver Aaron Merriman and trainer Joseph Kramp. 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 will leave from post five.

In the second division (race two) Lone Valley Sam hails from the rail for driver Chris Page and trainer Chris Beaver. This son of Iron Duke will be trying for his second straight OSS triumph, against six rivals. He confidently won his first career start in 2:00.1 on July 4 at Scioto Downs with Page at the lines. Lone Valley Sam was bred by Eli Miller and is owned by the Ohio-based partnership of trainer Beaver, Synerco Ventures, Inc., Steven Zeehandelar and David Lang.

Two newcomers to this series, Moose Madness, a son of Neely Dunn and Laser Leo, a son of Lionhunter, also vie in this second division, starting from posts six and seven, respectively.

Chips So Fast will have Aaron Merriman in the sulky as he tries for career victory two in the third division (race five) against eight freshman trotters. He scored his first win in OSS action on July 4 at Scioto Downs, when he triumphed in 1:59.1. Harnessed by Ryan Angus, this son of Chip Chip Hooray will start from post four and was bred by Midland Acres, Shari and Russell Angelbeck and is owned by Mark Moger and Albert Delia Jr.

MJB Got Faith will also be trying for his second career win in this same division. He’s partnered with driver Peter Wrenn from post five for trainer Steve Carter, and won his OSS division in 2:00.4 at Scioto Downs on July 4. He was bred by the GBW Breeding Farms, Inc. and is owned by Breana Carsey.

Newcomers in this division include Mainstreet Party (post three), a son of Rompaway Wally and Hot Cross Dunn (post seven), a son of And Away We Go.

In the fourth division (race nine) of diagonally-gaited youngsters, Triumphant’s Chip, a son of Triumphant Caviar, will go postward from post two for Wrenn and trainer Steve Carter. Owned by Adam Friedland and Cass Gallagher, Triumphant’s Chip finished third on July 4 at Scioto Downs in OSS action to Chips So Fast, timed in 1:59.2. This will be the second career start for the trotter, who was bred by Leroy Miller.

Chip Or Don, who leaves from post seven, will have Wrenn driving for trainer-owner Tye Loy. This son of Chip Chip Hooray finished fifth in his OSS test on July 4 at Scioto Downs, but won a 2-year-old overnight at Northfield Park on July 15 handily in 1:59.2. He was bred by Atlee D. Weaver.

Heza Home Run, from post eight and a son of And Away We Go, is the lone newcomer in this division.

Kanthaka headlines the fifth and final division (race 14) of seven freshman trotters. Trainer Chris Beaver will harness the Triumphant Caviar colt, who will be steered by Dave Palone from post seven. A winner of $23,750 in his brief career, Kanthaka won his OSS test on July 4 at Scioto Downs by nearly eight lengths in 1:58.3, making him one of the fastest 2-year-olds in this series to date. He was bred by Wilbur Stoll and is co-owned by Stoll and Beaver.

One Hot Future, by Traintothefuture, finished second to Kanthaka in that same OSS event on July 4 — timed in 2:00.1 — and will be looking for revenge in here from post four. Owned by Joseph Hess, One Hot Future is trained by Dan O’Mara and will be steered by Ronnie Wrenn Jr. Florence Wallace bred the bay gelding.

The lone newcomer in this division is the Chip Chip Hooray gelding Emerald Chip, who starts from post five.

The pacing divisions begin with race three on the 16-race card. Brenda Teague sends out Trayvon in the first field of eight colts. The son of I’m Gorgeous leaves from post six with Montrell Teague in the sulky. Montrell was up behind Meadowlands Pace winner Wiggle It Jiggleit just one week prior at the Big M. Trayvon finished second to Big Bad Cam in a solid effort on July 4 at Scioto Downs in OSS competition.

Whataboy, a son of Big Bad John, will have Chris Page in the bike from post four for trainer Virgil Morgan Jr. Bred by the DM Stable, this bay colt was fourth in his lone OSS test on July 4 at Scioto Downs. He is owned by Majs NY Inc., Gerrie Tucker and RBH Ventures, Inc.

Newcomers Haydenssmoothmove, by Woodstock, and Oncoming Storm, by Stand Forever, will start from posts five and eight, respectively.

A field of eight will line up behind the gate in the second pacing division (race eight). Friskie Cruiser, a black gelded son of Feelin Friskie, hails from the powerful Brian Brown stable, and won his OSS test at Scioto Downs in a speedy 1:55.3 by 3-3/4 lengths on July 4. He is owned and was bred by Stephen Sexton and will leave from post eight with Chris Page in the bike.

Rocky’s World, a son of World Of Rocknroll, leaves from post three for driver-trainer Jeff Nisonger. This bay gelding finished fifth in his July 4 OSS, but returned to win a 2-year-old overnight at Scioto Downs on July 14 in 1:56.2. Owned by the Rocky’s World Stable, this youngster was bred by Alan and Joe Byler.

Newcomers in this division include the World Of Rocknroll colt Kids Wanna Rock from the rail, and Littlbittybigjohn, a son of Big Bad John, from post four.

Smoke Up Johnny will have Greg Grismore in the sulky from post six in division three (race 11). Trained by Doug Hinklin, the son of Big Bad John won a first leg of OSS competition on July 4 at Scioto Downs in 1:56. Bred by Conquest Acres of Indiana, Smoke Up Johnny is owned by the Parent Racing Stable LLC.

Hailing from post seven is another son of Big Bad John, Mighty Touch. Ronnie Burke will harness the colt, who will be steered by Chris Page. This youngster finished second, timed in 1:57.3, in his OSS at Scioto on July 4. Breeder Knox Services owns Mighty Touch in partnership with Burke and Weaver Bruscemi.

Primo Giovanni, a winner of his first OSS test at Scioto on July 4 in 1:56.2, will have Chris Page in the sulky again from post five in the fourth pacing division (race 12). This son of Big Bad John is trained by Virgil Morgan Jr., for owner-breeder Carl T. Howard.

Onefinejimmerjohn was second in his OSS division on July 4 at Scioto Downs, pacing in 1:56.2 for driver Danny Noble. Ron Potter conditions the black son of Big Bad John, who will start from the outside slot in the field of eight.

Trainer Tom Harmer will drive newcomer Still Friskie, a son of Feelin Friskie, from post four in this event.

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 have to leave from post eight in the fifth division of pacing colts and geldings. Peter Wrenn will be up 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.

Nothin Fancy, from post nine, is another in here looking for his second OSS victory in as many tries. The black gelded son of Metropolitan scored a 1:56 triumph on July 4 at Scioto Downs in his maiden start for trainer and co-owner Fred Huff Jr. and partner John Fairchild. Dan Noble will be at the lines behind the gelding, who was bred by Reeves Barnhouse.

Newcomer Stand Out At Dawn, a son of Stand Forever, will leave from post two in this division.

The sixth and final pacing division (race 15) for OSS youngsters features eight contestants, with Whiskey Friskie, from post five, 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 $21,340 in career earnings and will have Aaron Merriman in the sulky. Midland Acres bred Whiskey Friskie, who is owned by Karen McGraw.

Dash Of Grace, with Ronnie Wrenn Jr. up from post three, will try for his second career victory. This son of Feelin Friskie won a 2-year-old Northfield overnight on July 15 in 1:56.2 by nearly 11 lengths and appears poised for another solid effort. Kurt Lepley owns, trains and bred the bay gelding.

OSS action continues on Saturday (July 25) at Scioto Downs with seven divisions of 2-year-old pacing and trotting fillies.