by Dean A. Hoffman, for the Ohio State Racing Commission

Columbus, OH — Rompaway Galaxy has been perfect in his first three Ohio Sire Stakes appearances this summer and he’s hoping to close the season with another win on Saturday night (Aug. 31) at Scioto Downs. He starts from post five in the seventh race against seven rivals.

Ohio Sire Stakes for young trotting and pacing males are featured at Scioto on Saturday night as they wrap up the OSS before the eight $150,000 finals at Scioto next Saturday on Ohio Super Night.

Krista Williams trains Rompaway Galaxy, a businesslike trotting gelding that has already banked $71,550 this year. He’s got a 1:58.4f mark, several seconds faster than any of his rivals in the Saturday race. His only loss came in an Ohio Breeders Stake where he had to come up the passing lane in the stretch and was just beaten by Soul Train.

Mike Micallef will be in the sulky behind Rompaway Galaxy.

While Rompaway Galaxy should go off as the odds-on favorite in his OSS division, the other trotting division, programmed as race two, looks to be an evenly-matched group of eight trotters. The standouts are Soul Train, Noah Count and Bradymeister.

Soul Train has four wins and two seconds in eight starts this season and a mark of 1:59.3. Chris Page will be in the bike behind this son of Trainforthefuture, hoping to pad his $44,008 bankroll.

He will have to turn back the challenge of Noah Count, the trotter with a name that doesn’t fit. Noah Count got off to a great start in the season before experiencing some breaking problems. Robin Miller drove him to a win in 2:00f earlier this season and he’s a factor if he minds his manners. He’s earned $39,775.

Kurt Sugg will be up behind Bradymeister who has post three in this division. He’s got the fastest win (1:59.1f) of the trotters in this split and his seasonal earnings stand at $33,340.

The fireworks start early at Scioto tonight as a dozen 2-year-old pacing males slug it out in two $30,000 divisions of Ohio Sire Stakes action. It’s the fourth and final leg of the series and the ambitious young sidewheelers will be hoping for a good performance to earn a spot in the $150,000 championship final the following week.

The first race of the night features Rocket Beau from post one versus Chance I Might from post two. Both have two wins in five starts this season. Rocket Beau sports a bankroll of $47,600 and a mark of 1:56.4f while Chance I Might has earned $36,450 and has scored in 1:56.2f. Chris Page drives Rocket Beau while Tony Hall gets the call on Chance I Might.

Yet the fastest pacer in the field is Hawks Cry Hoboken with a 1:55.1f win in four starts. He’s earned $22,100 and will have the driving services of Dan Noble.

The top trio will be faced by Upfront Clays Boy, Friskie Shadow and Feel The Heat.

In the second OSS division, which is carded as the third race of the evening, Friskie Adam and Ohio Hall of Famer Chip Noble have post one. He’s been first or second in six of his seven starts and that’s allowed him to earn $46,356 to go with his 1:55.1f mark.

His biggest threat seems to be Dibs, a winner of half of his six starts and $47,120. Dibs will be driven by Tony Hall and has already chalked up a 1:54.4f mark.

Looking to upset Friskie Adam or Dibs are a quartet of challengers in Big Bossman, Player’s King, Leg Schneppelin and Uf Fast Feelin.