The Ohio Sires Stakes (OHSS) presented five divisions for two-year-old fillies on Sunday night (Aug. 22) at Northfield Park, wrapping the four-leg series with events for trotters and pacers. A trio of $40,000 events were held for the trotting distaffs, while two $50,000 were contested for the pacing females.
Gabbys C Note took the first trotting division by open lengths for driver Aaron Merriman and trainer Chris Beaver, stopping the clock in 1:56.3. The daughter of Triumphant Caviar had no problem notching her fourth win of the season in five tries, upping her career earnings to $77,650 for owners Chris Beaver, Joanna Beaver and Steve Zeehandelar. The homebred lass, who was the 1-5 favourite, bested 10-1 Kirsi Dream with 15-1 Toes In The Water third.
Moments Created used a perfect steer by driver Kurt Sugg to notch her third victory and first in OHSS competition. The daughter of Creatine wore down the front-stepping 5-2 Reichers Caviar after sitting in the two-hole to score in 1:57 for trainer Edward Miller and owners Beccy Sugg and Watson Harness Racing. Ill Annie Up was third for Chris Page at 6-5 odds. Moments Created now has $57,000 in earnings.
Sweet On Pete, the 3-2 favourite, looked much the best in the third and final OHSS contest for freshmen trotting fillies. The daughter of Uncle Peter cruised to victory in 1:58 for driver Anthony MacDonald and trainer Jason McGinnis, besting 3-1 rival What’s Up Cupcake and 8-1 Marge At Large. Sweet On Pete is owned by Thestable Sweet On Pete and Hutchison Harness and this victory was her fifth lifetime in six starts. The bay filly upped her earnings to $69,150 as she scored a career-best clocking.
Gabbys C Note heads this filly trotting division with 154 points, followed by Caviar Roxie Due in second with 153 points and Stephanie Hill in third with 104 points. Martysmagicmoment follows in fourth with 92 points, with Kirsi Dream fifth with 91 points, and Moments Created in sixth with 84 points. Be My Baby Now sits seventh with 78 points and Sweet On Pete is eighth with 77 points.
Cape Cod Hanover at 2-5 and Hotshot Temptress at 9-5 became immersed in a battle royale down the stretch, with the former besting the latter in a whisker finish, timed in 1:53.2 in the first of the two OHSS pacing filly divisions. The bay filly by Downbytheseaside picked up her fifth win of the season in six starts for trainer Ron Burke and owners Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi, Rich Lombardo Racing and Ras Racing. Mermaid By The Sea, at 16-1, was third for Ronnie Wrenn, Jr.
Sea Silk, the 1-9 favourite, showed why she’s at the top of her division by remaining undefeated in scoring her sixth-consecutive win for trainer Ron Burke and driver Chris Page. The daughter of Downbytheseaside stopped the clock in a new national season’s mark of 1:52.3. Owned by Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi, Knox Services and Hatfield Stables, Sea Silk was bred by Steiner Stock Farm and now has $190,000 in career earnings. Dragon Lady, with Aaron Merriman at the controls, was second at 12-1, while 35-1 longshot Allnight Micki was third for Mike Wilder.
Sea Silk is the leader in her OHSS division with 204 points (victories in all four legs), with Cape Cod Hanover second with 179 points, Hotshot Temptress third with 137 points and Dragon Lady fourth with 129 points. Secret Side Piece (83 points), Mermaid By The Sea (78 points), Allnight Micki (61 points), and Dragons Revenge (60 points) all have gained a starting berth in the $300,000 Championship, set for Sept. 5 at Northfield Park.
(Ohio Sires Stakes)