With the $225,000 Ohio Sires Stakes (OSS) Championships just one week away, the action among the 2-year-old pacing and trotting colts is heated.
On Saturday night, Sept. 5 at Scioto Downs, a total of 55 youngsters will line up behind the starting gate to vie in the fourth leg of OSS action.
A total of 30 pacing and 25 trotting colts and geldings battle for $40,000 each dash.
Post time for the evening's 15-race card is approximately 6:30 pm, ET.
OSS Pacing Divisions
Carl Howard's Primo Giovanni has been assigned post ten in the first (Race One) of three OSS pacing divisions.
The son of Big Bad John-JK Reunited is looking for his sixth career victory in as many tries and his fourth OSS victory.
He won OSS leg one on July 4 at Scioto Downs in 1:56.2; his second OSS leg at Northfield on July 24 in 1:55.2; and his third OSS leg on Aug. 21 at Northfield in 1:55.1.
Conditioned by Virgil Morgan, Jr., Primo Giovanni has $87,575 in his career coffers.
Regular driver Chris Page will steer the speedy pacer, who was bred by his owner.
In the second OSS pacing division (Race Four) Smoke Up Johnny hopes to regain the form that made him a winner in the first leg of this series.
The son of Big Bad John-Leda's Twoeleven scored his first career victory on July 4 at Scioto Downs en route to that $40,000 OSS triumph, clocked in 1:56.
Owned by the Parent Racing Stable LLC of Holland, OH, Smoke Up Johnny is conditioned by Doug Hinklin and has seasonal earnings of $59,925.
Greg Grismore drives the youngster, who was bred by Conquest Acres of Indiana, from post one.
Rocknroll Wildcats, who won the third OSS leg on Aug. 21 at Northfield Park in a career best 1:54.1, will be right beside Smoke Up Johnny. Trained by George Anthrop and owned by Toman Enterprises LTD of Battle Creek, MI, the son of World of Rocknroll-Matter of Business-Matt's Scooter has been on the board in all six of his career starts.
Bred by Mark Marroletti of Florida, Rocknroll Wildcats has $32,300 in his career bank account.
Longshot Whataboy won his OSS division at Northfield on Aug. 21 in 1:54.3.
The son of Big Bad John, who is trained by Virgil Morgan for Majs Ny Inc., Gerrie S Tucker and RBH Ventures, is looking for his second career win from post seven with Chris Page in the sulky.
The winner of $37,113 was bred by the Dm Stables LLC of Florida.
The Teague family's Trayvon is the clear standout in the third (Race Seven) OSS pacing division.
This son of I'm Gorgeous-She'saknockout-Badlands Hanover has earned $42,362 this season for owner George Teague, Jr. of Harrington, DE-with his lone victory coming in OSS competition on July 24 at Northfield Park.
The youngster was clocked in 1:56 for the one mile test with trainer-breeder Brenda Teague's nephew Montrell in the sulky.
OSS Trotting Divisions
The Chris Beaver-trained Lone Valley Sam and driver Chris Page will start from the rail in the first (Race Two) of a trio of OSS divisions for diagonally-gaited specialists.
This youngster's lone victory came in his first OSS test on July 4 at Scioto Downs, when he trotted to a 2:00.1 victory with Page at the lines.
The Iron Duke-Wallaby Wannabee colt is co-owned by his trainer along with Synerco Vent of ON and S. Zeehandelar of Worthington, OH and D. Lang of Hilliard, OH.
Bred by Eli Miller, Lone Valley Sam has $35,166 in career purse earnings.
MJB Got Faith-who has won all three of his OSS contests in as many lifetime starts, heads up the second OSS trotting division (Race Three).
This son of Trainforthefuture-Imageofasweetgirl is trained by Steve Carter for Breana Carsey of Connersville, IN and notched his first career victory in OSS competition on July 4 at Scioto, when he was clocked in 2:00.4.
He followed that up with a 2:01.3 triumph in his second OSS contest at Northfield on July 24 and then stormed to victory in 2:00 in the third OSS leg at Northfield on Aug. 21.
A winner of $60,000, MJB Got Faith will have Peter Wrenn in the sulky from post six.
The bay gelding was bred by Gbw Breeding Farms Inc. of Ohio.
The mighty Kanthaka will be trying for career win six in as many starts in the last OSS trotting division (Race Nine).
He's won all three of his OSS legs to date-in 1:58.3 at Scioto on July 4; in 1:58 at Northfield on July 24; and in a lifetime best clocking of 1:57.1 at Northfield on Aug. 21.
Conditioned and co-owned by Chris Beaver and breeder Wilbur Lang of Jamestown, OH, the son of Triumphant Caviar-Elena-San Pellegrino now has $85,250 in earnings.
Ryan Stahl will pilot Kanthanka from the rail.
The Kurt Sugg-trained and driven Mickey Moose will try to become a five-time winner this season from post three in this same event.
This son of Triumphant Caviar-Chippedinstrawberry-Chip Chip Hooray has a three-race win-streak to his credit, including his last at Northfield on Aug. 21, when he captured his OSS test by nine lengths in a lifetime record of 1:57.3.
This bay gelding, who was bred by Richard Mairs and Shari Starner, now has $37,544 in his coffers.
He is owned by Dean Davis of Wooster, OH and Ashley Dunn of Polk, OH.
Ohio Sires Stakes competition for this and all 2 and 3-year-old divisions culminates in the $225,000 Championships on Saturday, Sept. 12 at Scioto Downs.hoto Cutlines:
Kimberly A. Rinker