by Keith Gisser, director of publicity, Northfield Park

Northfield, OH — On Saturday night (July 21), Northfield Park hosted seven $20,000 Ohio Sires Stake events as freshman colt trotters and pacers contested their third of five preliminary legs leading up to the $100,000 finals that will be part of the $1 million Ohio Super Night at the Route Eight oval on September 1. There were four trotting splits and three heats for pacers.

The evening started with the first trotting split and Hello Norman ($5.60) got off the schnide after four straight on-the-board finishes for owner Donna Jean Anderson. Bryan Weaver trains and drove the son of Master Lavec to the 2:01.4 win, besting Our Tommytoo and Don’t Know Chip.

The next two trotting events went to sons of Corleone. Sunland Dakota picked up his second Sires win with his 2:02 win, cruising to victory for owner-trainer Michael Sowers and driver Dave Myers. He defeated Scorin’ Lavec and Chips Of Troy.

Chip Noble then steered Rose Run Jeriah ($2.20) to a win in his $20,000 Sires event, making a quarter move to control fractions and throwing in a :28.4 final panel at the competition to earn the win for Ron and Linda Randall. Rose Run Jeriah, who is undefeated in three Sires tries, held off the first-over bid of Master Victory, while Born To Bea Master wrapped up the trifecta.

The last trotting heat went to Wayne Bell’s Son Of A Spur ($4.00). In line to leading driver Aaron Merriman, the son of Pegasus Spur was never headed as he easily defeated Rose Run Jasper. Moola Man closed well for third in the 2:02.4 mile.

Freshman colt pacing action got underway with a divisional track record as Ryan Stahl piloted Hello Yankie ($4.20) to a 1:53.2 win, four-fifths of a second faster than Noble Cam’s 2001 mark and just two-fifths of a second off the world record. Trained by Mickey Burke for Sylvia Burke, Frank Baldachino and Louis Starr, Jr., Hello Yankie bided his time early and then flew late, pacing a back half in under :57 seconds. Pacesetter Mai Tai Guy held second, while Beeyouuuuuu used the inside passing lane to get the show spot.

The second pacing split went to the undefeated Yankee Cruiser colt B J Cruiser, who left from post six, found a hole fourth and then moved to the outside heading to the half. He posted a 1:57.1 win for his third straight Ohio Sires Stakes victory, defeating Market Value and Show Me Big Slick, who flipped positions when Market Value was disqualified for a lapped on break at the wire. Ron Potter called on Kyle Ater to drive the colt for owners Bay Racing Stable.

Sires Stake action wrapped up with the Stand Forever colt C’mon Lew W ($16.80) making his career debut a winning one. Trainer-driver Ray Paver popped the colt three-wide heading to the three-quarters and battled with pacesetter Beau Jet before taking control at the top of the stretch to win in 1:55.1 for Jerry Sommers, Jon Rhoads, Jr. and Ronald Brechler. Rap’s Big Boy shook loose into the inside passing lane for second, while Beau Jet held third.