by Kimberly Rinker, Administrator, Ohio Standardbred Development Fund

Columbus, OH — Thirty-six Ohio-bred sophomore pacing colts will line up behind the Scioto Downs starting gate on Saturday night (June 11) to vie in four $40,000 divisions of the second leg of Ohio Sires Stakes competition. Post time is 6:30 p.m. (EDT) for the 15-race program.

Conrad photo

Mr Wiggle Pants cruised to victory in the first leg of Ohio Sires Stakes competition at Miami Valley Raceway.

First leg winner Mr Wiggle Pants will be harnessed by trainer and co-owner Jim Mulinix from post two in the competitive third OSS division (race five). Slated to be driven by Kayne Kauffman for co-owners Denny Miller, Bill Rufenacht and DM Stables, the son of Mr Wiggles will be trying for his fifth victory in a row.

Since qualifying on April 29, Mr Wiggle Pants has graced the winner’s circle four straight times, including an OSS victory in the first leg of the series on May 7 at Miami Valley Raceway, when he paced to a 1:53.4 clocking. He returned seven days later to post a career-tying 1:53.2 en route to victory in a Scioto Downs overnight and won again, this time in 1:54.3, at Scioto on May 21. Bred by Spring Haven Farm, the bay colt has $37,500 in seasonal earnings and $128,493 in career earnings.

Interestingly enough, Kauffman was also in the sulky behind Gotmoneyinmypocket, who captured his OSS first leg division on May 7. The gelded son of Feelin Friskie is conditioned by Jim Dailey and owned by breeders Jerry Zosel and Kathy Ratcliff. He won his last start, a Hoosier Park overnight on June 4 in 1:51.3, pushing his career earnings to $120,348.

Trainer Danny Collins will harness OSS first leg winner Hustling Charley in the fourth division (race 11) for himself and co-lessee Ryan Holton. After winning just one start as a freshman, the son of Charley Barley already has three victories to his credit this season in four starts, including his OSS score at Miami Valley on May 7 in 1:53 with Kyle Ater at the controls. Bred by Lisa Ezzo, the bay colt has $32,400 in his 2016 coffers and earnings of $51,013 lifetime.

Stephen Sexton’s Friskie Cruiser — who finished second in his OSS test on May 7 — has drawn post nine in this same division. The son of Feelin Friskie is conditioned by Brian Brown and is winless this year in five tries, but did have a substantial freshman campaign — winning four of 12 starts and earning $140,621 for owner/breeder Sexton.

Canadia’s Bakin was an OSS first leg winner on May 7 at Miami Valley for trainer Steve Carter and owners Chuck Grubbs, Robert Reid, Sheila Hummell and Jacob Beard. The son of Big Bad John — who heads up the second OSS division (race three) — was bred by the LMN Bred Stables Inc. and stopped the timer in 1:54.2 in his OSS test on May 7. He has since also prevailed in a Scioto overnight on May 21 in 1:53.4 as the public’s choice. The bay gelding has $69,129 in his career bankroll, with 16 wins from 26 lifetime trips postward and looks well-placed from post five.

Danny Noble conditions the $78,054-winning World Of Rocknroll gelding World Of Gaming for owner Stephen Sexton. Bred by Mel Hagemeyer, World Of Gaming had a lone win earlier this season at Miami Valley in 1:55.3 and was a hard-trying second in his OSS test on May 7. World Of Gaming leaves from post six with his trainer at the lines.

The first OSS division (race one) for sophomore side-wheelers is the most wide-open of the four events. All nine pacers will be trying for their first victory in OSS competition this season. Docdor Friskie has drawn the coveted rail position for trainer Melanie Wrenn and driver Peter Wrenn. This Feelin Friskie ridgling was second in his OSS first leg and is still looking for an elusive first victory of 2016. Bred by Midland Acres, Docdor Friskie has $46,948 in career earnings.

Brian Brown will tighten the girth on Whataboy, a winner of $80,204 in his career. The son of Big Bad John, who was bred by the Dm Stables, has two wins in 16 lifetime starts and was fourth in his OSS leg one test on May 7 at Miami Valley. Owned by Carl Howard, Gerrie Tucker and RBH Ventures, Inc., Whataboy owns a career mark of 1:54 and hails from the Brown Stable for the first time, having previously been conditioned by Virgil Morgan Jr.

Nothing Fancy, a black gelding by Metropolitan, is conditioned and co-owned by Walter Haynes Jr. for partners Brian Carsey and John McGill. This youngster has five career victories to his credit in 14 tries and $85,540 in his lifetime bankroll. Bred by Reeves Barnhouse, Nothing Fancy won a Scioto overnight on May 21 in 1:55.3, but took a qualifying mark of 1:53.1 at Hoosier Park earlier in the season.