Driven by Tony Hall for trainer Kevin Lare and owner Frank Chick of Harrington, DE, the McArdle lass was never headed throughout the one-mile test, and upped her career earnings to $26,500 with her second career triumph. Rose Run Uptowngal, at 3-5, was second for Chris Page, while Sugar And Spite, an 85-1 longshot, finished third in rein to Ronnie Wrenn, Jr., in the fourth OSS division.
Sent off at odds of 7-2, Queen Of The Pride had previously won a $13,000 baby race at Pocono Downs in 1:56 on June 26. Bred by Brad Wallace, this speedy lass is the fourth foal out of the Western Ideal mare Lionness Hanover p, 2, 1:53M ($21,280), and has half-siblings in Roaring To Go (by Art Major) p, 2, 1:50.4 ($421,999); Well Lets See (by Well Said) p, 4, 1:54.4h ($88,782) and Well Excuuuse Me (by Well Said) p,4,1:53f ($76,035).
In the third OSS division, Twinsburg used similar tactics as Queen Of The Pride to prevail for Anthony MacDonald in 1:54.4 as the public's even-money favorite, over 6-1 rival Pappy Rocks (Chris Lems). Mach The Rock with Jeremy Smith aboard finished third at 9-1.
A daughter of McArdle, Twinsburg is trained by Jason McGinnis for Brock Obrien, and now has $21,260 in her coffers. She won a Woodbine qualifier on June 9 in 2:00.4 before finishing third in 1:54.4 in a $10,500 Woodbine baby race on June 25.
Twinsburg is out of the Life Sign mare Fastidious Hanover p, 4, 1:54M ($24,286) and is a half-sister to Right Right (by Cole Muffler) p,3, 1:52.4 ($497,370); Sunken Treasure (by Somebeachsomewhere) p, 3, 1:52f ($121,330) and Someonesomewhere (by Somebeachsomewhere) p, 3, 1:56.4h ($11,538). Bred by Steve Stewart and John Carver, Twinsburg was a $12,000 purchase at the Ohio Select Yearling Sale last fall.
Lofty Beach captured the first OSS test in a snappy 1:55 for driver Aaron Merriman. The 4-5 favorite was a wire-to-wire winner for her driver and trainer Scott McEney, and an enthusiastic crowd greeted them in the Scioto Downs winners circle, for owner Bradley Grant, of Ontario, Canada.
Mi Nina Bonita and Ronnie Wrenn, Jr., were second at 9-1, while Pink Dragon, at 7-1 was third for Dan Noble. Lofty Beach is the seventh foal out of the Western Hanover mare Lofty Yankee (p, $920), making her a half-sister to: Shadow Moon (by Shadow Play) 2, 1:51.4s ($165,444); and Ontario Blue Chip (by Shadow Play) p,4,1:56.4h ($34,977), among others.
Finally, in the second OSS division, Carmen Ohio overcame the dreaded eight-hole to win handily in 1:55.2. Steered by Ryan Stahl for trainer Brian Brown, the daughter by The Panderosa went off at 3-1 odds, besting 9-2 High Reward (Ronnie Wrenn, Jr.) in another gate-to-wire effort by a length, with Bad Sammie (Chris Page) back in third.
Owned by Milton Leeman (also the breeder), along with S. Manning, B. Meizlish and W. Calvert, Carmen Ohio is out of the unraced Dragon Again mare Hufflepuff, and on June 27 won a Scioto Downs maiden in a front-stepping 1:57.1. She is a full sister to Slick Mick p,3,1:51.4f ($106,040) and has half-siblings in: Hannah Abbott (by Dave Panlone) p,3, 1:53s ($86,502); Buckeye Battle Cry (by Woodstock) 3, 1:56f ($23,297) and Olympe Maxime (by Real Desire) p,4,1:56f ($
Ohio Sires Stakes action continues tonight at Northfield Park with 3-year-old colt pacers going postward in a pair of races featuring purses of $50,000 each.
by Kimberly Rinker, OSDF Administrator