by Keith Gisser

Northfield, OH — Traditionally, Northfield Park Fridays feature fillies and mares. But July 30, the 3-year-old colts and geldings invaded for their Ohio Sires Stakes 2nd leg, with four $15,000 trotting heats and two $20,900 pacing splits.

Wolf Creek Ted ($5.80) won his fourth straight race in the first trotting heat as Dan Noble left aggressively from post seven and inherited the lead when several top contenders made breaks. The Jim Arledge, Jr.-trainee got a soft 1:02.2 first lap and rolled home in 57.3 to post the 2:00 win for owner Dustin Arledge of Orient, Ohio. 80-1 Glitzy Sam was second and Rose Run Limo survived an inquiry to finish third. The winner is an Emile Angus gelding who has now banked over $47,000 in his career.

The second trotting split went to the Richard Householder’s Victory Sam colt Samcango ($10.20). Ryan Stahl moved Samcango first over to challenge leader Ohio Frontier at the half and the pair battled to the wire. Samcango stuck a nose in front at the 1:28 three-quarter call, but Ohio Frontier regained the lead at the top of the stretch. The outcome wasn’t decided until the final stride as Samcango edged Ohio Frontier in a tight photo with Lookslikefire finishing third. The lifetime-best 1:58.1 win was Samcango’s second in five seasonal starts.

In the third $15,000 Ohio Sires Stake trot, trainer John Konesy III called on catch-driver Robin Miller to steer Jesse Fect ($9.40) and the result was a 1:59 lifetime mark, two-and-two-fifths of a second better than his previous best. Jesse Fect got up in the final strides to beat Triple G, who was placed back for interference at the three-quarters. Pegasus Point was placed second and Call The Warden was placed third. Jesse Fect is a Jailhouse Jesse gelding, owned by Maryann and Patrick Konesky.

The final trotting Stake featured heavyweights Sing Jesse Sing, winner of the $375,390 Goodtimes Final at Woodbine, and Cool Colby, who won $88,697 while dominating the state’s freshmen ranks last year. The battle never materialized as Cool Colby made a break at three-quarters and Sing Jesse Sing ($2.60) and Dan Charlino cruised to a 1:57.2 victory to push his career earnings to $259,948. Ron Burke trains the Jailhouse Jesse colt, who is owned by Burke Racing, Slaughter Racing, Weaver Bruscemi and Frank Baldachino.

The Burkes and Charlino were right back in the winner’s circle in the final Stake event of the night, a $20,900 colt and gelding pace. This time it was Manip U Lator Bb ($3.80), making just his third career start, establishing a 1:53 lifetime mark as he easily outdistanced a fast-closing Doc’s Yankee and the tiring 70-1 leader, Sand Summerfield. Burke Racing, Baldachino, M. Silverman and B. Schneider hold title to this one, a son of Mantacular from the good broodmare U Neek Bb

The first pacing heat provided the best finish of the night, with five horses across the track at the wire. When the dust cleared and the photo was developed, Roger Morlock’s Cruisinfullthrottle ($34.00) was victorious. Tye Loy trains the Yankee Cruiser gelding and Wyatt Irvine drove him to the 1:56 win, his fifth in ten season starts. Sam’s Slot Machine, who cut the fractions and took pressure every step of the way, was a game second and Yarrows Cruiser took home show money.