Twenty freshmen harness racing pacing colts are set to battle in two $50,000 Ohio Sires Stakes on Saturday, August 8 at Scioto Downs. This is the third round of the four-leg series for foals sired by an Ohio-registered stallions. First race post time is 6:30 pm, ET.
Odds On Pick Six and I'm Sorry Man are previous leg winners who return in the first OSS division (Race 3). Trainer Melanie Wrenn will bridle up Odds On Pick Six for driver Peter Wrenn and Odds On Racing. This son of Racing Hill, out of the Somebeachsomewhere mare Beach Party Hill, captured Leg One at Scioto in 1:54.2, then finished second at Northfield to I'm Sorry Man by half a length in Leg Two. Bred by Tom Hill, Odds On Pick Six has amassed $80,450 and starts from post two.
I'm Sorry Man hails from the Mark Rowe Stable for owner-breeder Matt Rowe and will start from post three with Kayne Kauffman at the lines. The son of Mr Apples-Ridge Jumper-Ironridge was third in Leg One before winning Leg Two impressively at Northfield on July 25 in 1:53.2. This bay gelding has $47,000 in his coffers from his win and two third place finishes in just four liftetime starts.
Heart Of Chewbacca, who leaves from post six for trainer Ronnie Burke and driver Dan Noble, bears watching. The striking black colt by Bring On The Beach-Jt's Chewbacca-Four Starzzz Shark was plagued by breaking issues earlier this year but since transferring to the Burke Stable has rattled off a pair of impressive triumphs, with a 1:52.3 score on July 23 and a 1:51.3 victory on Aug. 1 at Scioto Downs. Bred by Spring Haven Farm, Heart Of Chewbacca is owned by Dennis Owens and Norman Rae Racing.
Charlie May, Laughagain Hanover and Hardt At Work will slug it out in the second OSS division (Race 8). Charlie May is undefeated in this series thus far with triumphs in the first two legs in 1:54.2 and 1:53 for owner-breeder Don Tiger and trainer Steve Carter. From just three career starts the brown gelding by McArdle-Stipple Hanover-Western Hanover has earned $115,000 and has been saddled with a tough task in this latest contest, leaving from post ten for driver Danny Noble.
Laughagain Hanover will be harnessed by trainer Laura Searway for owners MJ Cimaglio, W. Richardson and RK Gilmartin. This son of McArdle-Laughing Once More-American Ideal sports a bankroll of $55,373 from his victories in Legs One and Two, timed in 1:54.3 and 1:55. Bred by Hanover Shoe Farms, this bay colt leaves from post three with Tyler Smith at the lines.
Trainer Mike Micallef will leave from post five with Hardt At Work. This son of Manhardt, out of the Keystone Raider mare River Bend Raider has garnered $40,050 in earnings for Michigan owners Brett Boyd Racing and Anthony Formosa. Bred by Gene L. Miller, the brown gelding captured Leg One in 1:55.1 before finishing second in Leg Two to Charlie May.
by Kimberly Rinker, Ohio Standardbred Development Administrator