Columbus, OH — The 2021 Ohio Sires Stakes season kicks off Sunday (May 2) at Miami Valley Raceway, with three divisions for sophomore fillies. As well, four divisions of sophomore colts will race at this same venue on Monday (May 3). Post time both days is 2:05 p.m. (EDT).

A total of 27 fillies will race in OSS events on Sunday, with one $60,000 division of nine trotters and a pair of $50,000 divisions of pacing fillies with nine contestants each. Likewise, on Monday afternoon, two $50,000 divisions of trotting colts and two $50,000 divisions of pacing colts will line up behind the starting gate.

This season the Ohio Sires Stakes nominations are up significantly, with 1,071 foals nominated as opposed to 930 in 2020. Of those, 314 are 3-year-olds, up from 300 in 2020, while 757 are 2-year-olds, up from 630 nominees during the same time period.

Merry Ann earned $245,200 last year from five wins and two seconds in eight starts. Conrad photo.

Last season’s 2-year-old champion Merry Ann makes her seasonal debut on Sunday for trainer Ron Burke in the lone trotting division (race six). This daughter of Southwind Spirit, out of the S J’s Photo mare Witty Girl, earned $245,200 last year from five wins and two seconds in eight starts and captured the $300,000 OSS final at Scioto Downs in 1:57. Her career mark of 1:56h came at Northfield in a $40,000 OSS contest on Aug. 7. Most recently, she qualified at The Meadows in front-stepping fashion in 2:01. Bred by Knox Services, she is owned by her breeder in partnership with Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi.

Burke also sends out Summer Touch (race nine), who captured the OSS $300,000 final on Super Night, and who will be making her second seasonal start on Sunday. After earning $285,550 as a freshman and pacing to a mark of 1:51.4h at Northfield on Aug. 7, this daughter of Well Said-Real Touch-Real Desire finished second by a head to Lady Arthur on April 23 in the $50,000 Scarlet & Gray. This speedster is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Knox Services, Slaughter Racing and Weaver Bruscemi.

Lady Arthur held off Summer Touch to win the $50,000 Scarlet & Gray Invitational for trotting fillies at Miami Valley. Conrad photo.

The aforementioned Lady Arthur (race three) heads up the first pacing division for Canadian-based trainer Dr. Ian Moore. This homebred daughter by Arthur Blue Chip, out of the Mach Three mare April Three, is owned in partnership by Moore, R G McGroup and Serge Savard. She earned $60,931 last year at two and took a mark of 1:53.2f at Scioto Downs on July 11 in a $40,000 OSS contest. This year she has amassed $25,000 from that lone start and victory in the Scarlet & Gray at Miami Valley.

On Monday afternoon, Perron leaves from post four in the second OSS trotting division (race four). This son of My MVP-Long Island Tea captured the $300,000 OSS final on Super Night last season in 1:58f and is making his third start this year. Trained by Chris Beaver for Steve Stewart, David Wright, Greg Wilcoxen and Kevin Doherty, Perron has amassed $206,204 lifetime for his connections.

The Beaver conditioned Winning Ticket has begun his 2021 campaign with a vengeance, rattling off three straight triumphs for owners Beaver, Steve Zeehandelar, Tim Homan and Jim Burnett. Bred by James Bender, the son of Triumphant Caviar, out of the Credit Winner mare Lotto Winner, already has $52,500 on his card this season, after earning $95,047 at two. Most recently he captured the $50,000 Scarlet & Gray for driver Aaron Merriman on April 24 at Miami Valley in 1:54.1. Winning Ticket starts from post eight in the first OSS trotting division (race two).

Charlie May had a fat pocketbook last season, with $328,627 in earnings for owner-breeder Don Tiger. Conrad photo.

Seven colts move behind the starting gate in the first OSS division for pacers (race six), headed up by Charlie May, last season’s winner of the $300,000 OSS final for freshman pacers. This McArdle gelding, who is out of the Western Hanover mare Stipple Hanover, had a fat pocketbook last season, with $328,627 in earnings for owner-breeder Don Tiger and looks to pick up right where he left off. After two solid qualifiers at Miami Valley for trainer Steve Carter, Charlie May won his debut in a $15,000 Hackett elimination on April 10 in an impressive 1:51.4.

Heart Of Chewbacca, a solid OSS contender last season, heads up the second pacing division (race eight) for trainer Ron Burke from the rail slot. The son of Bring On The Beach-JT’s Chewbacca earned $195,598 for owners Dennis Owens and Norman Rae Racing last year and has added another $48,750 to his coffers this season via two wins and a second in three starts. He lowered his 2-year-old record of 1:51.1f by a tick at Miami Valley on April 24 via his triumph in the $50,000 Scarlet & Gray with Danny Noble at the lines. This hardy youngster was bred by Spring Haven Farm.