Sophomore trotters vie in Ohio Sires Stakes Friday
August 23, 2018,by Kimberly Rinker, OSDF Administrator
Columbus, OH — Eighteen diagonally gaited sophomores are set to line up behind the Scioto Downs starting gate on Friday evening (Aug. 24) in two $50,000 Ohio Sires Stakes. First post is 6:30 p.m. (EDT), with the OSS events carded as the second and fourth races on the ten-race card.
Mission Accepted, the richest of the OSS-eligible 3-year-old trotting colts with $275,224 in career earnings, starts from post three with Ryan Stahl at the helm in the second division (race four). This Manofmanymissions colt is conditioned and co-owned by Jeff Conger for breeder/owner Knox Services and owner David Wills.
Mission Accepted swept the first two OSS legs, with triumphs timed in 1:53 and 1:52 (the fastest score of any horse in this division) and will be looking for his fifth win of the season in nine starts. He’s earned $84,424 thus far in 2018, with $40,000 of those earnings coming from his two OSS victories and 103 in accumulated OSS points, good enough to tie for first place in OSS standings beside rival Northmedo Mission, who also has 103 OSS points to his credit.
Trained by Mike Medors, Northmedo Mission won legs one (in 1:56.3) and three (in 1:55) for the Northmedo Stable. The homebred gelded son of Manofmanymissions has OSS earnings of $45,000, seasonal earnings of $81,550 and lifetime earnings of $92,778, with eight wins in 24 starts. Aaron Merriman drives from post four.
In the first OSS division (race two), Get The Cash — who won leg three in 1:54.4 and is riding a three-race win streak — leaves from the rail with Greg Grismore driving for trainer Kelly O’Donnell. This Cash Hall gelding was bred by Walnut Hall Limited and is owned by Mark Maynard, Joe Palatas and K O Racing. Get The Cash has $34,600 earned in the OSS series, with $65,300 in seasonal earnings and $101,540 in his lifetime bank account from eight wins in 16 starts.
Uncle Buck sits just outside of his aforementioned rival Get The Cash in the two-hole. Regular driver Aaron Merriman drives the altered son of Stormin Normand for owner Wayne Temple, looking for seasonal win five and his second in this series. He won leg two in a snappy 1:54.3 for these same connections and owns $37,300 in OSS money. Bred by Orville Rursch, Uncle Buck has $91,744 in his lifetime coffers and $80,495 in his seasonal pocketbook with five wins in 24 career starts. He has nine seconds and five thirds to his credit as well.
Rising MVP has been saddled with post seven for driver Chris Page and trainer William Daughtery Jr., who conditions the gelded son of My MVP for Susan Daughtery. This youngster comes into this fourth OSS test fresh off two consecutive victories, and won OSS leg two in 1:56.2. Bred by Mahlon Miller, Rising MVP has $22,500 in OSS earnings and $43,617 in seasonal earnings from four wins in 13 tries. Lifetime, he’s amassed a bankroll of $108,8327 from 13 triumphs, three seconds and two thirds in 26 starts.
The top ten headliners in this OSS division, based on points, are as follows: Northmedo Mission (103); Mission Accepted (103); Uncle Buck (90); Get The Cash (77); Sultan Of Cash (64); MVP Luke (61); Rising MVP (57); Pass The Vape (53); Two OB Wonkenobi (53); and Manny L (32).