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

Columbus, OH — Two $50,000 Ohio Sires Stakes championships for older horses and geldings will be contested Saturday night (Oct. 24) at Hollywood at Dayton Racino. Seven pacers and seven trotters will each vie in their respective divisions over Dayton’s five-eighths-mile oval, slated as the ninth and tenth events on the evening’s 14-race card.

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Rompaway Galaxy has won $472,361 in his career.

Rompaway Galaxy, the 2013 Ohio 2-year-old Trotter of the Year, heads up the field of diagonally-gaited Standardbreds for trainer Marty Wollam and the Rompaway Farms, LLC from post one. A winner of $472,361 in his career, this 4-year-old son of Rompaway Wally has been competing in the Open and Preferred ranks throughout the Midwest, with a pair of victories and one second to his credit this season in 16 trips postward.

Foaled April 18, 2011, this homebred gelding has amassed 15 career wins to date, and had outstanding 2- and 3-year-old seasons. As a freshman, Rompaway Galaxy captured OSS legs at Northfield, Scioto and Raceway Park, before triumphing in the $150,000 OSS championship in a seasonal best 1:57.4. As a sophomore he was a multiple OSS winner at Miami Valley, Scioto and Northfield and was second by a whisker to Lady’s Dude in the $200,000 OSS championship, in addition to having won the Ohio Breeders Championship at Delaware, and ended that year with $246,944 in his seasonal bank account.

To date, Rompaway Galaxy has 15 wins, six seconds and a trio of thirds in 39 lifetime starts. He is the fourth of five foals out of the Mr Vic mare Rompaway Wynona 2,2:00 ($63,655) and has a half-brother in the 12-race winning gelding Patches Five Six (by Lockkeeper) 4,1:59f ($45,698).

The aforementioned Lady’s Dude looks to be Rompaway Galaxy’s main threat. The altered bay 4-year-old son of Victory Sam has a two-race win streak coming into this OSS contest, timed in 1:54.3 and 1:54 at The Meadows. Conditioned by Ron Burke, Lady’s Dude is owned by the Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, and Johnny Yoder. A winner of $211,952 in his career, the bay gelding took his career mark of 1:53.2 last season at The Meadows.

Lady’s Dude is the fifth of eight foals out of the broodmare Lady’s Star (by Hi Noon Star) 5,1:56.2f ($181,884), and has half-siblings in Little Moola 4,Q2:03.2 ($38,040); Luddite Bluegrass (by Rocky Balboa) 2,2:00.3 ($30,000); and Lady’s Starlet (by Master Lavec) 3,2:03f ($11,290).

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Dancin Yankee goes postward in the $50,000 Ohio Sires Stakes championship for older pacers.

Dancin Yankee, Ohio’s Older Pacer of 2014, 2013 and 2012, heads up the OSS pacing championship from post five for driver Dan Noble. The 7-year-old son of Yankee Cruiser-Dancewiththebest-Cambest is the lone millionaire in this group of seven pacers, with $1,347,871 in lifetime earnings.

Owned by the Baron Racing Stable and Richard Lombardo, Dancin Yankee captured this same event one year ago, drawing off by nearly six lengths and pacing in 1:52.1.

Foaled April 9, 2008 in Georgetown, Ky., this rugged bay has a plethora of stakes triumphs to his credit, including victories in the $75,000 Ben Franklin Consolation at Pocono (2015); $260,000 Gerrity at Saratoga (2014); and a $50,000 Levy leg at Yonkers (2013, 2014); as well as six OSS victories at ages two and three and an Ohio Breeders Championship win as a freshman.

However, many of his 45 victories have come in the Preferred (five wins), Invitational (two wins), Open (12 wins) and Winners-Over (eight wins) ranks throughout the seasons. In addition, Dancin Yankee has garnered purse checks in 112 of his 131 career starts, and 86 of those were first (45), second (23) or third-place (18) finishes.

Just like fine wine, he seems to get better with each passing year. In 2010, as a 2-year-old, Dancin Yankee earned $60,406 and took a record of 1:53.2 at Scioto Downs. The following year, at age three, he earned $123,331 en route to a 1:50.2f clocking at Harrah’s Philadelphia. In 2012 he posted earnings of $231,225 and scored a 1:49.4f record at Pocono and in 2013, at age five, recorded a mark of 1:50.1f at Dover Downs while earning $170,860. As a 6-year-old in 2014 Dancin Yankee had his most success, earning $509,140 and lowering his career mark to 1:47.2f via a Pocono triumph.

This season he scored a 1:48.3f victory at Pocono on June 6 and has earnings of $252,909 for the year coming into the OSS championship at Dayton.

Bred by Elizabeth Wagner, Dancin Yankee was a $17,000 yearling purchase at the 2009 Ohio Select Sale, and is the first foal out of his dam. He is a full brother to $107,572-winning mare Cruzin To The Dance p,3,1:53.1f, and also has half-sisters in Dancin Caroll p,2,Q1:55.1f ($78,146) and Dancin In the Nude p,2,1:55.1s ($19,012) — both by Sportswriter.

Other contenders looking to give Dancin Yankee a run for his money include Feelin Lika Winner, a winner of $269,221 lifetime who captured the OSS championship as a 3-year-old. Trained by Scott Mogan, the 5-year-old son of Feelin Friskie has 11 lifetime wins to his credit.

Man He Can Skoot hails from the powerful Ron Burke Stable. This 6-year-old Mantacular gelding has $288,436 in his coffers from 35 career wins and comes into the OSS championship fresh off a strong, second-place finish in a Northfield Open.

$50,000 Ohio Sires Stakes 4-Year-Olds & Up Horses & Geldings Trotting Championship
PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer-ML Odds
1. Rompaway Galaxy-Mike Wilder-Marty Wollam-9-5
2. Lady’s Dude-Chris Page-Ron Burke-3-1
3. Cody Coy-Kyle Ater-Deborah Swartz-10-1
4. Soul Train-Dan Noble-Jose Godinez-6-1
5. JJ Hall-Kayne Kauffman-Scott Mogan-4-1
6. Count Full Mac-Bud High-Bud High-12-1
7. Can’tcutthatchip-Jack Dailey-Jim Dailey-8-1

$50,000 Ohio Sires Stakes 4-year-Olds & Up Horses & Geldings Pacing Championship
PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer-ML Odds
1. Outdoor Fever-Kayne Kauffman-Tom Brinkerhoff-8-1
2. Feel The Heat-Josh Sutton-Daniel Gill-10-1
3. J’s Six Pak Attack-Jeremy Smith-Sherri Chasteen-6-1
4. Feelin Lika Winner-Kayne Kauffman-Scott Mogan-4-1
5. Dancin Yankee-Dan Noble-Scott Cox-7-5
6. Chance I Might-Jason Brewer-Jim Dailey-12-1
7. Man He Can Skoot-Chris Page-Ron Burke-7-2