Northfield, OH – On a night that featured some of Ohio’s greatest stars in the Tom Aldrich President’s Trot and Myron Charna President’s Pace, Catch The Fire and Bit Of A Legend N shined in Ohio Sires Stakes action for 2-year-old colt and gelding pacers on Saturday (August 10) at MGM Northfield Park.
In the first of two $65,000 divisions, My First Fire (Austin Hanners) waited out a lengthy inquiry to win by a neck. The son of Catch The Fire, was parked to the opening quarter, working hard to get around Extra Suds (Brett Miller) for the lead, with the pair arriving at the quarter in :28.
Hanners was able to get a second quarter breather, getting to the half in :57.3. My First Fire tried to create some separation and at three-quarters in 1:25.4, however, Extra Suds found a little more in the tank but ran out of racetrack with My First Fire winning in 1:54.1. Whatchagonnado (Aaron Merriman) was third.
It was the third win of the year for the Todd Luther trainee, who is owned by Greg Luther Racing LLC.
In the second $65,000 division, heavy favorite Rick Wink (David Miller) made short work of the field by making the lead and never looking back, winning by 2-1/2 lengths ahead of Twin B High Tide (Austin Hanners) in 1:51.4.
House Of Brix (Trevor Smith) rallied three-wide late to be third.
Owned by Burke Racing Stable, R A S Racing, Knox Services, J&T Silva Purnell and Libby, with the victory, the 2-year-old out of the McArdle dam Mcgrin N Mcbare made it five for five in his career.