Eleven $40,000 divisions of Ohio Sires Stakes (OSS) for 2-year-old colts and geldings were contested on Friday evening at Northfield Park. This was the second of a four-part series for Ohio-bred harness racing pacing and trotting colts and gelding.
Trainer Scott Cox harnessed a formidable pair of trotters who won both the first and second divisions (Races 1 & 2), using the same racing tactics.
War College, with Sam Schillaci in the sulky, used a pocket trip to win the first division easily in 2:00.4 The bay gelding followed the pace-setting Lionbacker Kidd (Aaron Merriman) through fractions of :30, 1:00.4 and 1:31.1 before assuming the lead to nail down his first career win in two tries. Lionbacker Kidd held on for second, while Caviar Cruiser nailed third.
Overdressed and driver Kurt Sugg captured the fourth OSS trotting division (Race 9) in 2:00 for trainer Marty Wollam, who co-owns the youngster along with Dale Sweat and G&B Racing.
The son of Full Count-Mardi Gras-Balanced Image led at every post, tripping the timer in :30, 1:01.3 and 1:31.4 before winning just his second career start. Overdressed now has $24,800 in his career bankroll. Triumphant's Chip (Peter Wrenn) was second and Hello Pilgrim (Kayne Kauffman) was third in the six horse field.
Owner-breeder-trainer Brenda Teague's Trayvon got the pacing divisions started in a big way when he captured the first one (Race 3) handily in 1:56, leading at every post. The son of I'm Gorgeous-Sheisaknockout-Badland's Hanover now has $30,000 in his career coffers. Montrell Teague–Brenda's nephew was at the lines behind Trayvon, who bested seven rivals through panels of :29, :59.1 and 1:28.2. Standing Proud (Kayne Kauffman) got up for place honors.
Friskie Cruiser took the second pacing division for driver Chris Page, stopping the clock in 1:57.1 for the one mile test. This son of Feelin Friskie-Corner Cruiser-Yankee Cruiser garnered his second straight OSS victory, the first taken at Scioto Downs on July 4 in 1:55.3. He was bred and is owned by Stephen Sexton of Xenia, Ohio. Winna Winna (Kyle Ater) was second with Rocky's World (Jeff Nisonger) third.
Docdor Friskie and Peter Wrenn led from gate to wire to take the third pacing division (Race 11) in 1:54.3. The bay ridgling is a son of Feelin Friskie-Lady Shuffle-Cam's Card Shark and is owned by Dorothy Miller of Delphos, OH, and trained by Melanie Wrenn. Smoke Up Johnny (Greg Grismore) was second with Feelin Lucky (Aaron Merriman) third. Bred by Midland Acres, Docdor Friskie now has $23,200 in career earnings.
Primo Giovanni got up in the final strides to win the fourth OSS pacing division in 1:55.2 with Chris Page in the sulky. The son of Big Bad John-JK Reunited-Bettor's Delight was bred and is owned by Carl T. Howard of Powell, OH and hails from the powerful Virgil Morgan, Jr. stable. The win was the second in OSS competition for the youngster, who now has $40,000 in career earnings. Primo Giovanni followed the pace-setting Gotmoneyinmypocket (Ronnie Wrenn, Jr.) through opening splits of :28.2, :59 and 1:27.4 before stealing the race with a game first over move in the stretch. Onefinejimmerjohn (Dan Noble) got up for third.
Noble was in the winner's circle for the final OSS division, (Race 15), this time with his own trainee, World Of Gaming. The World Of Rocknroll colt stopped the timer in 1:55.2, his third career victory, in wire-to-wire fashion. Owned by Stephen Sexton of Xenia, OH, World Of Gaming was bred by Ohio's Mel Hagemeyer and now has $26,132 in career earnings. Love Tap Hanover (Dave Palone) was second, with Whiskey Friskie (Aaron Merriman) third.
Kimberly A. Rinker