by Kimberly Rinker, OSDF Administrator

Northfield, OH — Five different Ohio-registered stallions were represented by the quintet of Ohio Sires Stakes winners on Monday (July 2) as 42 freshman trotting colts and geldings lined up behind the Northfield Park starting gate.

Each division in leg one of this OSS series carried a purse of $40,000 on a balmy summer evening at the Cleveland half-miler where rumbling clouds threatened but did not deliver.

JJ Zamaiko photo

Homer Hall nailed down his third consecutive victory.

In the first OSS division Homer Hall, a gelded son of Broadway Hall, took a solid, front-end journey with Ryan Stahl at the lines to nail down his third consecutive victory. A surprising 15-1 shot, Homer Hall was clocked in a career best 1:59.3, besting 15-1 rival Here Comes Moony (Tyler Smith) and 13-1 Yes (Anthony MacDonald) who got up for third.

Bred by Midland Acres, Homer Hall is conditioned and co-owned by Steve Carter, along with Jay Mossbarger and Cass Gallagher. Previously, this youngster had scored triumphs at the Circleville and Ottawa county fairs, and his bankroll now stands at $23,559.

Homer Hall is the 11th foal out of the Armbro Iliad mare Cynthia Iliad 3,Q1:58.f ($219,824), and is a half-sibling to Allthatnabagofchip (by Chip Chip Hooray) 1:53.3 ($364,286).

Driver Ryan Stahl was back in the winner’s circle in the second OSS division, this time with Bosley, an altered son of Manofmanymissions, who was clocked in a snappy, front-stepping 1:59.2. Trained by Scott Cox for the Parent Racing Stable and G Peters, Bosley was sent off at 11-1, besting 9-5 favorite Cravin For Cash (Greg Grismore) by a length, with 2-1 Pattis Main Man (Kyle Ater) third.

Bred by Darwin and Ann E. Shaver, Bosley’s financials now stand at $20,325. He is the first foal out of the unraced Chocolatier mare Nettie.

To no one’s surprise, Oh So Pine captured the third OSS division impressively in 2:01.3 as the public’s 1-2 favorite. Reined by Anthony MacDonald for Jason McGinnis, the brown son of Uncle Peter got a come-from-behind steer to notch his second career victory for Thestable Oh So Pine Group. Sweet Dynamite got the perfect trip behind the winner, finishing three-quarters of a length behind Oh So Pine, with Kenny Kidd in the sulky at odds of 30-1, with 7-2 Gallivant (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) third.

Bred by Gbw Breeding Farms, Oh So Pine is out of Pine Potion, an unraced daughter of world champion Pine Chip, and is a half-brother to Bullet (by Windsong’s Legacy) 1:53.1s ($303,500).

TC’s Best captured the fourth OSS division as the 3-5 choice with Aaron Merriman at the helm, timed in a confident 1:59. This Triumphant Caviar colt looked every bit the determined combatant for trainer and co-owner Chris Beaver, and partners James Gallagher, Moger-Delia Racing and Steven Zeehandelar, as he held off the 6-1 challenging Dylan The Great (Chris Page) by 1-3/4 lengths. Just A Passenger, an 80-1 longshot, nailed down show honors for driver Jeremy Indof.

TC’s Best is the first foal out of the Andover Hall mare Curvature Hanover 3,1:57.1f ($67,599).

In the final OSS division, it was a son of Wishing Stone who took home first place honors. Lane Of Stone, a 9-1 shot, stopped the clock in 1:59.3 for breeders/owners Harry and Iris Horowitz. Jeff Nisonger was in the sulky behind the Mark Winters-trained youngster, who overtook the 60-1 leading Friggun Biggun (Anthony MacDonald) in the stretch to nail down his second career victory. Peter Trottintail (Tony Hall), a 25-1 longshot, was second, a quarter-length behind the winner, while Friggun Biggun held on for third.

Lane Of Stone is the fourth foal out of the Lindy Lane mare Wisteria Lane 4,1:57.3 ($18,559).

Ohio Sires Stakes action continues Tuesday night (July 3) at Northfield Park, with events for 2-year-old trotting fillies, and Wednesday afternoon (July 4) at Scioto Downs, with 2-year-old pacing colt races.