From Eldorado Scioto Downs
The fifth leg of the Ohio Sires Stakes concluded Saturday (Aug. 29) at Eldorado Scioto Downs and produced exciting results, including two sub-1:50 miles for 3-year-old colt pacers.
With three $50,000 divisions going postward, When Is Parade took the fastest split, winning in 1:49 for driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr. and trainer Ron Burke. Odds On RPJ (Luke Hanners) set fractions from the rail of :26, :54.1, and 1:21 while When Is Parade looked on after settling fifth from post seven. Shooting up the passing lane, When Is Parade won by a length over pocket-sitter Prolific Blend (Austin Hanners). Odds On RPJ was third.
When Is Parade, by Summa Cum Laude out of the Sweet Lou mare West End Pip, is a homebred for Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi, Michelle Yanek, and Phillip Collura. With four wins in 22 lifetime starts, When Is Parade now has $191,395 in earnings.
Tsunami Seas (David Miller) took the other sub-1:50 split, winning his division by three and a quarter lengths in 1:49.4. Getting away third and parked from post four, Tsunami Seas marched his way to the front after Backninebar (Chris Page) took the field to the :27.2 opening quarter. Tsunami Seas then led through fractions of :56 and 1:22.4 to win. Backninebar and Rock Son (Brett Miller) rounded out the top three.
Tsunami Seas, by Downbytheseaside out of the Riggins mare Foxy Rigger, was an $80,000 Ohio Selected Yearling Sale purchase from breeder Country Club Acres and L & H Management Services. Trained by Virgil Morgan Jr. for owners Jeffrey Rector, Larry Wills, and Hutchison Harness, Tsunami Seas now has six wins in 18 lifetime starts and $130,707 in earnings.
The last division went to Pet Project (Trevor Smith), who got the pocket trip behind fraction-setter Starblazer (L. Hanners) as he tripped the beam in :27.3, :56.3, and 1:24.4. After interference right near the finish line, judges placed Pet Project first. Starblazer was second with Thunder Nation (D. Miller) third.
Pet Project, by Pet Rock out of the Feelin Friskie mare Igottafeelinfran, is owned by Jr Stable and trainer Kim Dailey. Pet Project now has seven wins in 17 lifetime starts and $238,408 in earnings.
Freshman Colt Pacers
A quartet of heavy hitters in the 2-year-old colt pace division have continued to let their presence known week in and week out. In the fifth and final leg, Jett James and Night Surfer came out on top, winning their races in 1:51.2 and 1:53.4, respectively.
Jett James (B. Miller) made it three in a row when he took his $75,000 division by a length and a half over North Rim (Wrenn Jr.). Getting away fourth from post four as Into The Blaze (Ronnie Gillespie) took the field towards the :27.1 opening quarter, Jett James quickly pulled and set the remaining fractions of :56.1 and 1:24.3. North Rim briefly made the front after the quarter and settled for the pocket trip but could not quite reach the winner in the stretch. Into The Blaze was third.
Jett James by Monte Miki out of the Western Ideal mare Albrizzi Hanover was an $8,000 Blooded Horse Sale purchase from breeder Jacob Mossbarger. Owned by trainer Adam Short, Jett James now has five wins in eight starts and $154,185 in earnings.
Night Surfer took his division in gate-to-wire fashion, leading the field through :26.4, :56.3, and 1:26.3 splits. Sprinting home down the stretch, Night Surfer came home in :27.1 to win by a length and three-quarters over pocket-sitter Don’ttruckwithme (Chris Lems). The Might Brix (Tyler Smith) got up for third.
Night Surfer, by Downbytheseaside out of the Bettor’s Delight mare Dark Force, was a $67,000 Ohio Selected Yearling Sale purchase from breeder KAD Farms. Owned by Let It Ride Stables, Morrison Racing Stables, and Steven Held, Night Surfer has a perfect record, winning four races in four starts and earning $153,810.
Freshman Filly Pacers
Tempting Flames and Cleveland Darby, both out of McArdle mares, each took a $75,000 2-year-old filly pace division in 1:52.1 and 1:52.2, respectively.
Getting her fifth win in a row, Tempting Flames (D. Miller) took a newer approach sitting in the middle of the pack as Thought I Had It (Tr. Smith) led the field through :26.3, :56.2, and 1:25 fractions. Tempting Flames got away fourth from post seven and made a swift three-wide move right at the three-quarter pole to take the lead midway through the last turn and posted a :26.3 last quarter to draw clear to win by three and a half lengths over Thought I Had It. Moni N The Safe (B. Miller) was third.
Tempting Flames, by Catch The Fire out of Hotshot Temptress, was a $52,000 Ohio Selected Yearling Sale purchase from breeder Ivy Holdings. Owned by William Hartt and trained by Michael Hitchcock, Tempting Flames now has five wins in seven starts and $228,100 in earnings.
Cleveland Darby (Page) was parked through the :26.4 opening quarter but made the lead shortly thereafter and led through fractions of :55.3 and 1:24.2. Miki Grad (B. Miller) closed from the back to get within a quarter length of the winner to finish second. Jar Of Hearts made a bid down the backside but finished third.
Cleveland Darby, by Downbytheseaside out of Loreenas Ruffian, was bred by Carl Howard and is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, RAS Racing, and Larry Karr. The Ron Burke trainee now has four wins in seven starts and $156,000 in earnings.
Celebrating its 50th season, the Ohio Sires Stakes has concluded all five legs for all eight divisions. The OSS Scarlet Championships are scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 12, at Scioto Downs.