Columbus, OH — The Ohio Sires Stakes started off with a bang Friday night (June 12) as McMarkle Sparkle and driver Brett Miller cruised to a new Scioto Downs track record clocking of 1:50.1 for 3-year-old pacing fillies in the first of two $50,000 contests for state-bred sophomore pacing fillies.

McMarkle Sparkle and driver Brett Miller cruised to a new Scioto Downs track record clocking of 1:50.1 for 3-year-old pacing fillies. Conrad photo.

Leaving the gate at odds of 7-5 McMarkle Sparkle overtook the leading 3-2 Beautiful Beach (Aaron Merriman), who began tiring quickly at the 1:22.4 three-quarter marker, leaving 15-1 rival Artful Dancer (Danny Noble) in a cloud of dust as she scored her first victory of the season. Penpaperpaige (Tyler Smith) got up for third as a 4-1 choice.

Trained by Jim Arledge Jr. for owners-breeders Laura and Paul Baker, the brown McArdle filly now has $138,826 in career earnings.

PJ’s Legacy, who captured the $75,000 consolation for 2-year-old pacing fillies in 2019, swept to a 1:52 front-stepping triumph in the second OSS pacing division for driver Ryan Stahl as the 2-5 choice. Trained by Brian Brown for Jennifer Brown, Hutchison Harness, Joelyn Ridder and Mark Kantrowitz, the bay daughter by Big Bad John bested a fast-closing 2-1 Ellagator (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) by a head, with 10-1 longshot Hoochie Girl (Kayne Kauffman) getting up for third.

Bred by Walter Fister, PJ’s Legacy now has $153,170 in her bankroll.

Kikimora continued her winning ways by taking the first of three $40,000 OSS trotting events in 1:54.1. Conrad photo.

Kikimora, the 8-5 second choice, continued her winning ways by taking the first of three $40,000 OSS trotting events in 1:54.1, scoring for driver Aaron Merriman by three-quarters of a length over 3-5 A Fancy Face (Chris Page). Trained by co-owner Chris Beaver for co-owner/breeder Sandra Burnett, the daughter of Triumphant Caviar, out of the Chip Chip Hooray mare Nessa Rose, captured the $300,000 championship for 2-year-old filly trotters last season and now has $231,516 in her career coffers. Lima Gold (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) picked up third-place money at odds of 9-1.

Guinevere Hall was much the best, capturing the second trotting division in 1:55 and racing on the front end nearly every step of the way with Peter Wrenn driving for his wife, trainer Melanie Wrenn. The daughter of Cash Hall, who was bred by Alan Leavitt, picked up her fourth career win in her 2020 debut as the 6-5 choice. Uncle Peters Love (Brett Miller) was second at 2-1, with 14-1 Compass Rose DC third for Trace Tetrick.

Guinevere Hall now has $154,181 in her lifetime bankroll.

Globetrotting, who was making her seasonal debut for trainer Jason McGinnis and Thestable Globetrotting, did not disappoint her backers as the 4-5 favorite, using front-end tactics to emerge triumphant in 1:55.1. Trace Tetrick was in the sulky behind the big brown daughter of Manofmanymissions, who was bred by Steiner Stock Farm, as she picked up her fifth career victory and upped her career earnings to $171,582. Tootie (Brett Miller) was second at 3-1 with 5-1 Hometown Honey (Tyler Smith) notching third-place honors.

Three-year-old fillies will battle in OSS leg two on June 27 at Northfield Park. Foals are eligible to the rich Ohio Sires Stakes program based on their breeding, as their sire must be registered with the Ohio State Racing Commission during year of conception.