Grove City, OH — The 3-year-old fillies will kick off the 2022 Ohio Sires Stakes season at Miami Valley Raceway Wednesday (May 3). Two divisions of pacers and two divisions of trotters will go to the gate, each carrying a purse of $55,000.

Trainer Ron Burke will send out six starters, three in each division of the pace, while Chris Beaver leads the trainers on the trotting side with four starters, two in each division.

Two-year-old filly trotting champion Gabby’s C Note and 2-year-old filly pacing champ Sea Silk start defense of their titles in the first leg.

The first OSS race of the day will feature James K. Hackett Memorial filly trot winner Toes In The Water. Conrad photo.

The first OSS race of the day will feature James K. Hackett Memorial filly trot winner Toes In The Water. Trained by Tye Loy, the daughter of Long Tom upset Gabby’s C Note, battling down the stretch to win by a half-length in a new lifetime mark of 1:55.3. Toes In The Water is owned by Loy and Roger Morlock.

Last year, Toes In The Water won five of 10 races and finished second in the Buckeye Stallion Series final.

Loy says he wasn’t surprised by the win in the Hackett.

“The way she qualified at Northfield before the elimination was a nice mile. The track wasn’t that great, and it was windy. She was just right qualifying in (1):57,” said Loy.

Also in the first division is Stephanie Hill. The Beaver trainee finished third in the Hackett final.

In the second division, Hackett runner-up and morning line favorite Gabby’s C Note starts the defense of her Sires Stakes title. Beaver says it is hard to repeat as Sires Stakes champion.

“There always seems to be different winners from two to three,” said Beaver. “Some horses improve a lot more from two to three, so you never know for sure which one will be your best one.”

Beaver said he is lucky to have a large stable with some nice backups to his Sire Stakes champions in each division.

Gabby’s C Note is owned by Beaver, his mother Johanna, and Steve Zeehandelar.

In the first division of pacers, Cape Cod Hanover is the morning line favorite. The daughter of Downbytheseaside is coming off her victory in the Hackett Memorial. She is looking for her third win of the season. Cape Cod Hanover is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Rich Lombardo Racing, and RAS Racing.

The Burke trainee will be joined by stablemate Twenty, who finished third in the Hackett final, and Catamaran.

Also in the first division is 2021 Buckeye Stallion Series 2-year-old pacing champion Bittrsweetsymphony. Trainer Crist Hershberger says this year they are taking a shot at the Sires Stakes.

“Last year some of her wins were very easy, like there was no competition.”

Hershberger says the daughter of Well Said has been coming back well this winter and spring. She is making her 2022 debut, coming off two qualifying wins.

Sea Silk will be one of three Ron Burke trainees to go behind the starting gate. JJ Zamaiko Photography.

The second division will see last year’s filly pacing champion making her season’s debut. Sea Silk will be one of three Burke trainees to go behind the starting gate. She will be joined by stablemates Coastal and Sloopy. Coastal finished second in the Hackett final.

Burke says Sea Silk has been perfect in her training this spring and he is expecting big things.

“I think she is significantly better than my other fillies.”

Sea Silk won all nine of her Ohio starts, finishing the year nine for 11, and earning $584,092. Burke says Sea Silk is a legit Grand Circuit horse.

“She’s perfect gaited, perfect size, she’s a good horse. She really doesn’t have any flaws.”

Sea Silk is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Knox Services, and Hatfield Stables.

Three-year-old colt pacers and trotters are scheduled to open Sires Stakes action Saturday afternoon (May 7) at Miami Valley Raceway.