Four $40,000 divisions of Ohio Sires Stakes (OSS) for harness racing sophomore pacing colts were contested on Saturday night, June 11 at Scioto Downs.
Whataboy captured the first OSS division, leading at every pole for driver Chris Page. The gelded son of Big Bad John romped to a new career clocking of 1:52.1 to score his second victory of the season in eight tries. Trained by Brian Brown, Whataboy floated unchallenged through fractions of :27.1, :54.4 and 1:224. In the lane, he was headed briefly by the pocket-sitting Docdor Friskie (Peter Wrenn), who went off stride trying to pass his rival. That left clear sailing for Whataboy, who was in front at the wire by 4¾ lengths.
"The horse was good tonight and we got a little break in the stretch," Page remarked. "This horse has matured a lot mentally this year but physically, he's still about the same size."
Bred by Dm Stables LLC, Whataboy now has $37,450 in seasonal earnings and $80,240 in his career coffers for owners Carl Howard, Gerrie Tucker and RBH Ventures, Inc.
Docdor Friskie survived a stewards inquiry to hold on to his second place finish, with Whiskey Frisky (Greg Grismore) nailing down third place honors.
Aaron Merriman gave Canadia's Bakin a clever steer to win the second OSS division in 1:52, a new career clocking for the son of Big Bad John.
Trained by Steve Carter for C Grubbs, R Reid, S Hummel & J Beard, Canadia's Bakin grabbed the lead and never looked back, flying through panels of :27, :55.4 and 1:24.1, before storming home with a :27.4 final quarter brush to prevail by a length over World Of Gaming (Dan Noble and Haydenssmoothmoove (Ronnie Wrenn, Jr.).
"This colt is very handy out of the gate and I was able to make the front tonight really easily," said Merriman.
Canadia's Bakin now has $49,848 in seasonal earnings from four wins in eight starts and 17 triumphs in 27 career starts with $89,129 in his coffers.
Bred by LMN Bred Stables, Canadia's Bakin won leg one of this series on May 7 at Miami Valley Raceway, timed in 1:54.2.
The sturdy-gaited Mr Wiggle Pants kept his winning streak intact in the third OSS division–making his triumph his fifth straight for his connections.
The son of Mr Wiggles prevailed by a length in 1:51.4, a career best, for driver Kayne Kauffman, finishing a length ahead of the hard-trying Winwood Mac (Darrell Wright). Trained and co-owned by Jim Mulinex and D. Miller, Bill Rufenacht and the Dm Stables, Mr Wiggle Pants took the lead and paced evenly through fractions of :27.3, :56.3 and 1:23.4.
"This colt is very game and is only getting stronger," Kaufmann noted. "Jim (trainer Mulinix) has done a super job with this colt."
Bred by Spring Haven Farm, Mr Wiggle Pants pushed his seasonal earnings to $57,500 and his career bankroll now stands at $148,493. He now has eight wins in 15 lifetime starts and won the first leg of this series at Miami Valley on May 7 in 1:53.4.
The fourth and final OSS division saw Smoke Up Johnny (Greg Grismore) sweep under the wire first for trainer Doug Hinklin and the Parent Racing Stable in 1:52.2. The son of Big Bad John recorded just his second victory of the season and his fifth win lifetime, pushing his career earnings to $101,327.
Smoke Up Johnny and Hustling Charley (Kyle Ater) got into an aggressive stretch duel down the lane, with the former prevailing by a head over the latter.
"My colt (Smoke Up Johnny) was pretty strong but when he saw that other horse (Hustling Charley) coming at him, he really dug in and started fighting him off," Grismore stressed.
Smoke Up Johnny upped his seasonal earnings to $28,975 and now has five wins in 14 career starts. He was bred by Conquest Acres of Indiana.
By Kimberly Rinker