Grove City, OH — Three freshman filly trotters found the winner’s circle for the first time in their careers in first leg action of the Ohio Sires Stakes Sunday night (July 17) at MGM Northfield Park. Each division carried a purse of $40,000.

In the first division, Smokinhotirishgirl and Anthony MacDonald grabbed the early lead over the sloppy track, cutting fractions of :29.1, 1:00, and 1:29.2. As the field rounded the final turn, Smokinhotirishgirl went off stride setting up a stretch run battle between Jumping The Line and Cali Red. Jumping The Line and Billy Davis Jr. grabbed the lead for a moment, but Cali Red, the 4-5 favorite, and Aaron Merriman pulled ahead at the top of the stretch and held on to win by a half-length in 2:00. Jumping The Line finished second with She’s Loveable third.

Chris Beaver trains and co-owns the Triumphant Caviar-Red Storm filly with Sandra Burnett. Cali Red adds the win to a third-place finish earlier this year in her two starts.

In the second division, Sliding Sister, making her debut, sat fourth for most of the race until Chris Page took her three-wide around the final turn to grab the lead. Sliding Sister held off a late charge from Rose Run Yolanda to win by three-quarters of a length in 2:00.2. Along In Time was third.

Ron Burke trains the daughter of Uncle Peter-Glidemyway for Burke Racing Stables, RAS Racing, Hatfield Stables, and Weaver Bruscemi.

In the final division, Truly Relentless went gate-to-wire to win for the first time. Chris Lems took the Long Tom-Inner Drive filly to the lead off the gate and never looked back, cruising to a 2-3/4 length win in 1:57.4. Swinging Senorita finished second with third going to Global Girl.

Scott Cox trains Truly Relentless, who has hit the board in all three starts this year, for Richard Gutnick, Thomas Pontone, and Joseph Lozito Jr.

The first leg of the Ohio Sires Stakes for 2-year-olds wraps up Monday at MGM Northfield Park with three divisions of 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters. First race post time is 6 p.m.