Daryl Sherman's and Melissa Patterson's Spirit Bell, a daughter by Southwind Spirit, turned in the speediest performance of the evening among Ohio Sires Stakes contestants, with a 1:58 clocking in the second OSS division.
Reined by Ryan Stahl for trainer Kent Sherman, Spirit Bell was sent off as the 4-5 choice and responded with a wire-to-wire performance, finishing 1½ lengths ahead of 8-1 second-place finisher So Romantic (Ken Holiday), with 9-5 Back Splash (Ronnie Wrenn, Jr.) nailing down third-place monies.
Bred by Dublin Valley Farm, Spirit Bell collected the $20,000 winner's share of the OSS purse for her connections in her pari-mutuel debut. She is the first foal out of the Majestic Son mare Keystone Isabella 3, 1:57.2h ($42,456).
Aunt Rose, the 4-5 favorite, also put in a front-stepping performance to capture the first OSS division for driver Ronnie Wrenn, Jr., and trainer Chris Beaver, who owns the bay daughter by Uncle Peter along with Joe Sbrocco and Steven Zeehandelar. Timed in 1:59.1, Aunt Rose trotted confidently throughout the mile, easily defeating 2-1 And Up We Go (Greg Grismore) by seven lengths, with 7-2 Bad Babysitter finishing third for Danny Noble.
Bred by Spring Haven Farm and Doug Millard, Aunt Rose is the eighth foal out of the Yankee Glide mare Lightning Flower 3, 1:56.2m ($5,725) and is a half-sister to Lightning Storm (by Donato Hanover) 4, 1:53.2f ($341,917); Wildflower (by Muscle Hill) 3, 1:55m ($265,437); and Lightning Force (by Muscle Hill) 3, 1:53 ($169,906).
See Me Sparkle did just that in the third OSS division. Trained by J L Adams and driven by Ronnie Wrenn, Jr., the daughter by Broadway Hall notched her first career victory in 2:00.3 with a dramatic, come-from-behind victory that saw her brush her final panel in a snappy :28.3. Sent off at odds of 4-1, See Me Sparkle bested 12-1 longshot One Last Howl (Mike Wilder) by a length, with 8-1 Aunt Marilynn (Aaron Merriman) third.
Bred by Midland Acres, See Me Sparkle is owned by the Pennsylvania-based trio of partners M A Valentic, J R Bednarksi & K L Adams. This cute little brown filly is the fifth foal out of the Master Lavec mare Queen Of Lavec 2, Q1:59.4f ($32,258) and has half-siblings in: Queen Of Justice (by Justice Hall) 3, 1:56.3s ($79,273); Jailhouse King (by Jailhouse Jess) 4, 1:56f ($76,766); and Little King Cole (by Jailhouse Jesse) 4, 1:57f ($51,662).
Dan Ater's and Kirk Nichol's Vivi D posted a 1:59.2 winning clocking in the fourth OSS division, with Ater's son Kyle in the sulky. The Broadway Hall lass zipped through panels of :29.3; 1:00.4; and 1:30 at odds of 5-1 for her connections in her pari-mutuel debut, holding on in the late going to finish a neck in front of the hard-trying 4-5 favorite Only Take Cash (Ronnie Wrenn, Jr.). Pure Chance, at 9-5, was third for driver Aaron Merriman.
Bred by D & M Robinson and R. Mondillo, Vivi D is the third foal out of the unraced Cantab Hall mare Fortheloveoflindy.
Trainer Chris Beaver returned to the Northfield Park winner's circle in the final OSS division, this time with the even-money favorite, Stone In Love, who he owns in partnership with Jim Burnette and Tim Homan. This Wishing Stone daughter prevailed in 1;59.2 for driver Aaron Merriman, besting 2-1 Box Cars (Ryan Stahl) by a length and a quarter at the wire. Princessofpink, at 10-1, was third for Tony Hall.
Stone In Love is the third foal out of the Cantab Hall mare PFront Bye Bye 3, 1:56.3f ($77,820), and has half-sisters in Chelsees A Winner 4, 1:55.4f ($81,982) and Party Upfront 3, 2:00.4h ($27,312)–both sired by Big Rigs. She was bred by Mark Ford and Ed Mullinax.
Ohio Sires Stakes action continues Wednesday afternoon at Scioto Downs, with five $40,000 Ohio Sires Stakes divisions for 2-year-old pacing colts.
by Kimberly Rinker, OSDF Administrator