Two fields of 3-year-old pacing fillies vied for first money in a pair of harness racing $40,000 Ohio Sire Stakes (OSS) events on Friday night, June 12 at Northfield Park.
Karlee Sue, a bay daughter by Feelin Friskie, took the first OSS division handily in 1:54.2 for Hall of Fame driver David Miller. After getting away at the back of the pack, Miller skillfully brought Karlee Sue up through splits of :27.4, :57.2 and 1:25.2, utilizing a modest :29 final brush to nail down the victory.
Friskie Tel Dawn (Aaron Merriman) finished second, three-quarters of a length behind the winner, with Friskie Lil Devil (Ronnie Wrenn, Jr.) getting up to nail show honors.
Bred by Midland Acres, Karlee Sue is conditioned by Al Tomlinson of Mason, Michigan, who owns the filly in partnership with Daniel Mitchell and Dennis Stolz of Michigan. The victory pushed the filly's career earnings to $65,765.
The second OSS split for sophomore pacing fillies was captured by the public's choice Crosswinds Cupcake and driver Ronnie Wrenn, Jr., in a lifetime best clocking of 1:55. Owned and bred by the Crosswinds Stable Farm of Waynesville, Ohio, this daughter of Stand Forever picked up her second victory of the year in six starts and now has $67,172 her lifetime bankroll.
After wrestling the lead away from Happy Jude at the :28 opening panel, Crosswinds Cupcake paced solidly through quarter fractions of :57.3 and 1:26 before brushing home in :29, drawing away from her rivals by 5¼ lengths. Corner Girl (Ryan Stahl) was second best while Happy Jude held ground to be third.
Third leg OSS action shifts to Northfield Park on July 17 for the colts of both gaits, while the fillies go postward on Aug. 14 at Northfield. Fourth road contests will take place at Scioto Downs on Aug. 28 for the fillies and Aug. 29 for the colts.
The $225,000 championship events for all the 2- and 3-year-old divisions will be held on Saturday (Sept. 12) during Scioto Downs' Super Night festivities.
By Kimberly Rinker, Administrator, Ohio Standardbred Development Fund