Ohio Sires Stakes spotlight sophomore colts at Miami Valley
May 3, 2018,by Kimberly Rinker, OSDF Administrator
Columbus, OH — Six divisions of Ohio Sires Stakes sophomore trotting and pacing colts and geldings will line up behind the Miami Valley starting gate on Sunday afternoon (May 6).
A total of 22 diagonally-gaited specialists and 29 sidewheelers passed the Miami Valley entry box, necessitating three divisions for each gait. First race post time is 2:05 p.m. (EDT).
Standouts returning from last season include $250,000 OSS 2-year-old trot championship winner Mission Accepted, a son of Manofmanymissions conditioned and co-owned by Jeff Conger for Ohio partners Knox Services (also the breeder) and David Wills in the second division (race six). Mission Accepted owns a mark of 1:54.3 taken in his last start at Miami Valley, when he captured a $50,000 Scarlet & Gray division. His career earnings stand at a healthy $215,800.
Sultan Of Cash — trained and owned by Roger Hughes Jr. — was a multiple OSS winner in 2017, and has three second-place finishes in a trio of starts this year. The winner of $152,765 is by Cash Hall, out of the Conway Hall mare Anything But Love and starts from post two in the first division (race two).
In the pacing ranks, Seeing Eye Single looks for another strong season, having captured the $250,000 OSS championship for freshman pacing colts on Sept. 2, 2017 at Scioto Downs. The son of Dragon Again is conditioned by Ronnie Burke for Burke Racing, Silva, Purnel & Libby, Larry Karr and Weaver Bruscemi and has $209,355 in his coffers. He’ll go postward in the first division (race four) from post eight.
Trainer Brian Brown sends out five pacing contestants, including $100,148 winner Dragonology and $70,248 earner Slick Mick in the first division (race four); the McArdle colt Lots To Live For in the second division (race eight); and Rockin Away and Cinnamack in the third division (race 12).
Conditioner Brenda Teague sends a formidable trio postward — one in each division. Delaware Chrome, a son of Mr Apples, leaves from post seven in the first division (race four), while the I’m Gorgeous colt Sip And A Bite gets the four-hole in the second division (race eight), fresh off a 1:54 triumph at Harrah’s Philadelphia. Lather Up, another son of I’m Gorgeous, leaves from post eight in the final division (race 12).
As in past years, each of the 2018 OSS divisions for 2- and 3-year-olds include four legs, a championship to be contested at Scioto Downs on Sept. 8, and a consolation at Northfied Park on Oct. 13. The championship purse increased this season to hefty $275,000, while horses in the consolation will race for a respectable $60,000.
This season, however, the legs have a fluctuating purse based on the number of nominated horses who enter. If only one division is required for a leg, the purse will be $60,000; if two divisions are required, the purses will be $50,000 each; and if three or more divisions are required, then each will carry a $40,000 purse.
As well, $60,000 veteran championships for horses and mares of both gaits, 4-year-olds and up, have been reinstated this season, and will be held at Northfield Park on Oct. 6.
Leg two of this series for sophomores will be as follows: June 2 at Northfield Park for 3-year-old pacing fillies; June 9 at Scioto Downs for 3-year-old pacing colts; June 11 at Northfield Park for 3-year-old trotting fillies; and June 15 at Scioto Downs for 3-year-old trotting colts.