by Kimberly Rinker, OSDF Administrator

Northfield, OH — Five $40,000 Ohio Sires Stakes divisions spotlighted 49 Buckeye-bred freshman trotting fillies at Northfield Park on another balmy summer night, Tuesday (July 3).

JJ Zamaiko photo

Spirit Bell won her Ohio Sires Stakes division in 1:58.

Daryl Sherman and Melissa Patterson’s Spirit Bell, a daughter of Southwind Spirit, turned in the speediest performance of the evening among Ohio Sires Stakes contestants, with a 1:58 clocking in the second OSS division. Reined by Ryan Stahl for trainer Kent Sherman, Spirit Bell was sent off as the 4-5 choice and responded with a wire-to-wire performance, finishing 1-1/2 lengths ahead of 8-1 second-place finisher So Romantic (Ken Holliday), with 9-5 Back Splash (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) nailing down third-place monies.

Bred by Dublin Valley Farm, Spirit Bell collected the $20,000 winner’s share of the OSS purse for her connections in her pari-mutuel debut. She is the first foal out of the Majestic Son mare Keystone Isabella 3,1:57.2h ($42,456).

Aunt Rose, the 4-5 favorite, also put in a front-stepping performance to capture the first OSS division for driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr. and trainer Chris Beaver, who owns the bay daughter of Uncle Peter with Joe Sbrocco and Steven Zeehandelar. Timed in 1:59.1, Aunt Rose trotted confidently throughout the mile, easily defeating 2-1 And Up We Go (Greg Grismore) by seven lengths, with 7-2 Bad Babysitter finishing third for Danny Noble.

Bred by Spring Haven Farm and Doug Millard, Aunt Rose is the eighth foal out of the Yankee Glide mare Lightning Flower 3,1:56.2 ($5,725) and is a half-sister to Lightning Storm (by Donato Hanover) 4,1:53.2f ($341,917); Wildflower (by Muscle Hill) 3,1:55 ($265,437); and Lightning Force (by Muscle Hill) 3,1:53 ($169,906).

See Me Sparkle did just that in the third OSS division. Trained by J L Adams and driven by Ronnie Wrenn Jr., the daughter of Broadway Hall notched her first career victory in 2:00.3 with a dramatic, come-from-behind score that saw her brush her final panel in a snappy :28.3. Sent off at odds of 4-1, See Me Sparkle bested 12-1 longshot One Last Howl (Mike Wilder) by a length, with 8-1 Aunt Marilynn (Aaron Merriman) third.

Bred by Midland Acres, See Me Sparkle is owned by Martin Valentic, John Bednarski and Kassandra Adams. This cute little brown filly is the fifth foal out of the Master Lavec mare Queen Of Lavec 2,Q1:59.4f ($32,258).

Dan Ater and Kirk Nichol’s Vivi D posted a 1:59.2 winning clocking in the fourth OSS division, with Ater’s son Kyle in the sulky. The Broadway Hall lass zipped through panels of :29.3, 1:00.4 and 1:30 at odds of 5-1 for her connections in her pari-mutuel debut, holding on in the late going to finish a neck in front of the hard-trying 4-5 favorite Only Take Cash (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.). Pure Chance, at 9-5, was third for driver Aaron Merriman.

Bred by Donald and Michael Robinson, Robert Mondillo and Steve Cheatham, Vivi D is the third foal out of the unraced Cantab Hall mare Fortheloveoflindy.

Trainer Chris Beaver returned to the Northfield Park winner’s circle in the final OSS division, this time with the even-money favorite, Stone In Love, who he owns in partnership with Jim Burnette and Tim Homan. This Wishing Stone daughter prevailed in 1:59.2 for driver Aaron Merriman, besting 2-1 Box Cars (Ryan Stahl) by 1-1/4 lengths at the wire. Princessofpink, at 10-1, was third for Tony Hall.

Stone In Love is the third foal out of the Cantab Hall mare Upfront Bye Bye 3,1:56.3f ($77,820). She was bred by Mark Ford and Ed Mullinax.

Ohio Sires Stakes action continues Wednesday afternoon at Scioto Downs, with five $40,000 Ohio Sires Stakes divisions for 2-year-old pacing colts.