by Kimberly Rinker, Administrator, Ohio Standardbred Development Fund

Columbus, OH — Six $40,000 divisions of Ohio Sires Stakes for sophomore trotting and pacing colts are on tap this weekend at Scioto Downs. Three divisions of 3-year-old trotting colts will be featured on Friday (July 15) and a trio of pacing divisions are in the spotlight Saturday (July 16). First race post time both evenings is at 6:30 p.m. (EDT).

JJ Zamaiko photo

MJB Got Faith will be looking for his second Ohio Sires Stakes victory of the season on Friday night at Scioto Downs.

Last season’s 2-year-old Ohio trotting champion MJB Got Faith will leave from post eight in the first OSS division (race two) Friday. The diminutive son of Trainforthefuture earned $192,500 as a freshman, winning five of five starts — including the $225,000 OSS Championship — for Breana Carsey of Connersville, Ind.

Conditioned by Walter Haynes, Jr., MJB Got Faith has three wins and a pair of thirds to his credit in 2016, with $47,100 in his seasonal coffers. He captured the second leg of this series on June 4 at Northfield Park in rein to Ronnie Wrenn Jr., clocked in 1:57.2 in near wire-to-wire fashion. Bred by Gbw Breeding Farms Inc. of Ohio, MJB Got Faith is the fifth and most prolific foal out of the Striking Sahbra mare Imageofasweetgirl 3,1:58.2h ($123,280).

Chris Beaver will tighten the harness on Poppin Tags, who makes his foray into OSS competition for the first time in this same division. Unraced at 2, the Triumphant Caviar gelding has three Northfield Park triumphs to his credit this season in four starts, with a mark of 1:58.1. Owned by Heidi Woodruff and his trainer, Poppin Tags appears to have the speed and talent to compete with these.

Bred by Danny Collins, the bay gelding is the seventh foal out of the Speedy Crown mare Top Bait 3,Q2:00.4f ($92,160) and is a half-brother to Copper John (by Yankee Glide) 5,1:57.3f ($85,368); Fishing Frenzy (Malabar Man) 5,1:59.3h ($67,629) and Madison River (Self Possessed) 4,1:57f ($53,198).

OSS leg one winners Chips So Fast, Overdressed and The Next Triumph will spar in the second OSS division for diagonally-gaited specialists.

Chips So Fast has drawn the rail for trainer Chris Beaver and the Pennsylvania-based partnership of Mark Moger and Albert Delia Jr. The son of Chip Chip Hooray has amassed $43,668 from three wins this season, pushing his career earnings to $80,664. He captured his OSS leg one in 1:57.1 for driver Chris Page on May 7 at Miami Valley. Bred by Shari and Russell Angelbeck and Midland Acres Inc., the brown colt is the second foal out of the Humorous Harry mare Stable Creek Barb 3,1:59.2h ($136,236) and is a full brother to Chips A Million 2,Q2:03f ($22,283).

Trainer Miles Wollam will tighten the girth around the Full Count gelding Overdressed. Owned by G&B Racing and Dale Sweet, Overdressed won his first start of the year — the first leg of this series — on May 7 at Miami Valley in 2:00 with Kurt Sugg in the bike. He then captured the second leg in 1:57.3 on June 4 at Northfield Park.

Overdressed now has $48,762 in seasonal earnings and $100,579 in his career bankroll. Bred by Marvin Raber, this impressive brown sophomore was a $25,000 purchase at the 2014 Ohio Selected Yearling Sale and is the fourth foal out of the Balanced Image mare Eden’s Mardi Gras 4,2:00.3f ($2,608). He is a full brother to the multiple Ohio Sires Stakes-winning Dark Roast 3,1:57.1h ($169,470).

The Next Triumph starts from post 10 for trainer Ron Steck, who owns the gelding in partnership with Robert Smolko and Rene Allard. The son of Triumphant Caviar captured leg one of the OSS series at Miami Valley on May 7 in 1:57.2 for driver Jeremy Smith and followed that up with a 1:56.1 score at Northfield in leg two on June 4.

Bred by the Second Chance Stable, The Next Triumph has $55,950 in seasonal earnings and $109,756 lifetime. The son of the Overcomer mare We Got Next was an $11,000 yearling purchase at the 2014 Ohio Select Sale and is the sixth of seven foals out of his dam. His siblings include Bail Jumper (Jailhouse Jesse) 5,1:55 ($136,402); Parris Island (Semper Fi Hall) 5,1:55.3f ($119,569); Maximum Security (Jailhouse Jesse) 4,1:55.1s ($59,115) and The Next Cell (Jailhouse Jesse) 5,2:04.3h ($11,115).

Kanthaka — a multiple OSS and Ohio Fair Stake winner last year at 2 — heads up the final OSS division (race 10) on Friday night. This son of Triumphant Caviar trotted to freshman earnings of $140,814 in 2015 for breeder Wilbur Lang and trainer Chris Beaver. This season he’s collected a pair of overnight wins — one at The Meadows and one at Scioto Downs — adding $35,750 to his career bank account.

This well-bred sophomore is the sixth foal out of the San Pellegrino mare Elena 2,1:57.1s ($338,071) and is a full brother to Mythology 2,2:01.2h ($20,000) — who recently won his OSS test this past Tuesday night at Northfield Park with trainer Beaver at the lines. Kanthaka’s half-siblings include Alacrity (Pilgrims Taj) 4,1:55s ($149,860); First Flower (Angus Hall) 5,1:58.1f ($123,369); High Blue (Majestic Son ) 5,1:54.4f ($77,355); and High Jingo (Angus Hall) 4,1:59.3h ($77,273).

Conrad photo

Mr Wiggle Pants will be trying for his third Ohio Sires Stakes triumph on Saturday night at Scioto Downs.

Mr Wiggle Pants will try for his seventh consecutive triumph in as many starts this season for trainer Jim Mulinix in the third OSS division (race eight), which looks to be the most competitive of Saturday’s contests for Ohio-breds. Regular driver Kayne Kauffman will be behind the pacer from the eight slot.

Mulinix owns the son of Mr Wiggles in partnership with Denny Miller, William Rufenacht and DM Stables. A winner of $67,500 this year, Mr Wiggle Pants has posted victories in both of his previous OSS legs. First, he captured OSS leg one on May 7 at Miami Valley Raceway in 1:53.4 and later scored a 1:51.4 front-stepping repeat on June 11 at Scioto Downs.

Bred by Spring Haven Farm, Mr Wiggle Pants has $158,493 in his career coffers. He’s the fourth foal out of the On The Attack mare Shani Pants ($323) and was a $15,000 purchase at the 2014 Ohio Selected Yearling Sale. He has Feelin Friskie half-siblings in Sassy Osborne p,4,1:52.1h, a 25-race winner of $127,930; and Friskie Pants p,3,1:57.3h ($12,488).

Whataboy gets the benefit of the rail in this same division for trainer Brian Brown and driver Chris Page. The son of Big Bad John has earned $50,050 this year in 10 starts with three wins, a second and a trio of thirds, including an impressive, wire-to-wire, 1:52 score on July 11 at Scioto Downs in the second leg of this series. Bred by the Dm Stables, Whataboy was a $25,000 yearling at the 2015 Ohio Selected Sale and is the fifth of seven foals out of the Noble Ability mare Arapanalia p,3,1:57.2h ($130,319).

Owned by Carl Howard, Gerrie Tucker and RBH Ventures, Inc., Whataboy has amassed $92,804 lifetime and has half-siblings in Panongahela (No Pan Intended) p,3,1:51.2s ($278,526); Little Miss Artist (Artistic Fella) p,3,1:53.1h ($55,286); Par Intended (No Pan Intended) p,5,1:56.1h ($44,140); and Occupant (The Panderosa) p,3,1:56.3f ($19,870). He also has a 2-year-old Artist’s View half-brother named Panoramic View, who recently scored a qualifying mark of 1:59.3s.

Canadia’s Bakin will start from post three in the second OSS division (race three) Saturday night for trainer Steve Carter and driver Aaron Merriman. The Big Bad John gelding, who is out of the Camluck mare Canadia, posted a victory in leg two of this series on July 11 at Scioto Downs, posting a speedy 1:52 mile in wire-to-wire style. Canadia’s Bakin is owned by the partnership of Chuck Grubbs, Robert Reid, Sheila Hummel and Jacob Beard.

This sophomore side-wheeler has 17 wins, three seconds and a third in 29 starts and $89,804 in career earnings. Bred by Lmn Bred Stables, Canadia’s Bakin is the sixth foal out of the Camluck mare Canadia, and sold for $15,000 at the 2014 Ohio Selected Yearling Sale. He is a half-brother to Can Repeat (Real Desire) p,1:53.4h, a 27-race winner of $100,861; Nadia Can Go (Major In Art) p,4,1:55.1f ($49,102); Pte’s Desire (Real Desire) p,2,1:54 and Candy Sweetapple (Major In Art) p,2,1:58f.

Hustling Charlie also appears poised for a strong effort in this same division. The son of Charley Barley is conditioned and co-leased by Danny Collins and Ryan Holton. This bay colt won leg one of this series on May 7 at Miami Valley Raceway in a blistering 1:53.4, drawing off from his rivals by six lengths with Kyle Ater at the lines. He has $47,200 in his seasonal coffers and $65,813 in lifetime earnings. Bred by Lisa Ezzo, Hustling Charlie was a $13,000 purchase at the November 2015 Blooded Horse Sale, and is the first foal out of his dam, the Art Major mare Heartangel p,2,1:56.1s ($72,879).

The first OSS pacing division (race two) sees Smoke Up Johnny looking for his second victory in this series, and will leave from post seven. The Big Bad John gelding, who is conditioned by Doug Hinklin for the Parent Racing Stable, has racked up $31,375 in seasonal earnings and won his OSS test on June 11 at Scioto Downs in 1:52.2 with Greg Grismore at the controls. Bred by Indian’s Conquest Acres, Smoke Up Johnny was a $20,000 purchase at the 2014 Ohio Selected Yearling Sale. He is the third and most prolific foal out of the Bettor’s Delight mare Leda’s Twoeleven p,2,Q1:58.1 ($22,029).

Stephen Sexton’s homebred Friskie Cruiser will be trying for his first victory in this series and for the season, leaving from the rail for trainer Brian Brown. The coal black Feelin Friskie gelding won three OSS legs as a freshman, garnering $140,621 in earnings as a 2-year-old, and finishing second to Love Tap Hanover in the $225,000 Championship on Super Night. This year Friskie Cruiser has yet to visit the winner’s circle but has hinted at times, with his best effort coming in leg one of this series on May 7 at Miami Valley when he finished second to Mr Wiggle Pants.