Dayton: $2.4 million on the line in Ohio Sires Stakes Championships

The Buckeye State's top rookies and sophomores of both sexes and gaits came to Hollywood Gaming Dayton Raceway on Saturday night for their eight $300,000 Ohio Sires Stakes Championships.

The 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters started off the Championships, and Rumble Strips (Kayne Kauffman) led through fractions of 28 3/5, 58 3/5, and 1:27 3/5 in winning by a length over pocket-sitter Jet Hill (Kurt Sugg) in a track record time of 1:56 1/5. A Real Legend (Don Irvine Jr.) rallied from sixth to third in the final quarter.

Mike Polhamus trains Rumble Strips, a Long Tom-Lady Glider colt bred by Franklin Equine LLC., for owners Constance Polhamus and Mary Beth Walters. Rumble Strips, a $40,000 purchase at the 2021 Ohio Selected Jug Sale, has a record of 4-1-2 from nine trips behind the gate, has pocketed $276,135, and returned $3.40 to win as the 4-5 favorite.

In the freshman male pace, Act Fast (Chris Page) posted panels of 27 3/5, 57, and 1:24 3/5, but Rockmelikeyameanit (Brett Miller), who had the two-hole trip, surged into the lead on the inside in the stretch and won by half a length in 1:53 2/5. Surfside Beach (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) crossed the wire second but was placed eighth for a pylon violation at the top of the stretch. His infraction moved Downrightdelicious (Matt Kakaley) up to second, and Racing Rampage (Aaron Merriman), who dueled with Act Fast from first-over, was elevated to third.

Rockmelikeyameanit, a McArdle-Fast And Fiesty gelding bred by Gbw Breeding Farms Inc., is trained by Christi Noble for owners Dennis Owens, Norman Rae Racing LLC., and James Morris. Rockmelikeyameanit is now a two-time winner from eight trips from eight appearances, pushed his bankroll to $296,153, and paid $12.80 to win as a 5-1 offering.

"He's always right there, and he's got a lot of grit. He's a nice colt," said Noble.

Rose Run Yolanda, already with wins in her State Fair and Breeders Championship divisions, polished off an Ohio Triple Crown by winning the sire stakes final for rookie trotting fillies.

Driver Trevor Smith sent Rose Run Yolanda first-up from fourth racing to the 58 second half and hooked up in a fight with leader Global Girl (Irvine Jr.) en route to the 1:27 1/5 three-quarters. Global Girl and Rose Run Yolanda continued to trade blows around the final bend and into the lane, but Rose Run Yolanda finally wore down Global Girl through the drive and scored by a length in 1:57 1/5. Global Girl did fend off Swinging Senorita (Anthony MacDonald) for second.

"It's absolutely awesome. She came through for us," offered winning owner Greg Luther. "She's a very, very nice filly."

A Triumphant Caviar-Rose Run Keepsake filly, Rose Run Yolanda is trained by Todd Luther for Greg Luther's Black Magic Racing LLC. Bred by Rose Run Farm, she was acquired for $50,000 at the 2021 Ohio Selected Jug Sale and has six victories and a second from seven starts and has earned $290,528. She returned $3.00 to win as the 1-2 choice.

More The Merrier (Merriman) was on a loose lead through fast clip of 26 3/5, 54 2/5 and 1:22 4/5 in the 2-year-old filly pace, but she began to tire late on the last turn, and taking advantage was McSeaside (Page). She tipped three-wide out of fourth past three-quarters, rallied into the lead in the stretch, and pulled clear to prevail by a pair of lengths in 1:53 4/5. Cruise Alert (Wrenn Jr.) was second from the pocket, and More The Merrier held third.

"Aaron was on kind of a speed mission, so I wasn't sure how it was going to work out. My filly factored in the race. She's had a good campaign all year long, and she's going to finish the year out great," remarked Page.

The victorious Downbytheseaside-McGibson filly bred by Andray Farm and Sergent Stables LLC. is trained by Ron Burke for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Beasty LLC., J&T Silva Stables LLC., and Knox Services Inc. McSeaside, who was hammered down for $67,000 at the 2021 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, made her second appearance in the winner's circle from seven outings, has now put away $220,114, and paid $4.20 to win as the chalk.

Longshot (Chris Lems) bided his time in third in the 3-year-old colt and gelding trot, tipped out on the last turn, and rallied by leader Caviar Gold (Merriman) in the stretch to score by a length and a quarter in 1:54 2/5. Caviar Gold, who was on top at the 27 3/5 quarter, 56 4/5 half, and 1:25 2/5 three-quarters, had to settle for second, and Rose Run Xtra (Page) ended up third.

"It's just nice to finish the year off. He's had a fabulous year," said winning trainer Scott Cox. "It's nice for the owners to enjoy it."

A Long Tom gelding bred by Perry Coblentz, Longshot is trained by Cox for owners Wayne Mast Jr. and Callam Racing LLC. Longshot posted his 11th career triumph, has now stashed away $309,460, and returned $5.20 to win.

The second horse on the card to wrap up an Ohio Triple Crown was Gabbys C Note (Merriman) in the sophomore filly trot. She led her seven rivals through splits of 28, 57, and 1:25 2/5 and a 30 1/5 final kicker got her to the line half a length ahead of a gaining Criquette Hall (Page) in 1:55 3/5. Favorite Aunt (B. Miller) wound up third after a tepid first-over move.

"She really showed her professionalism and how dominant she was tonight," Merriman offered.

Gabbys C Note, trained by co-owner Chris Beaver, is a daughter of Triumphant Caviar bred by co-owner Johanna Beaver. Steven Zeehandelar rounds out the ownership group of Gabby's C Note, who has a record of 15-3-0 from 19 lifetime tries, has now put away $600,778, and paid $2.40 to win as the 1-5 favorite.

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Buckeye State standout Sea Silk (Page) became a two-time sire stakes champion and went over $1 million mark in lifetime earnings by taking the 3-year-old filly pace. She moved from the pocket to the front after the 27 3/5 opening quarter, fended off a first-over bid by Prancing Queen (B. Miller) through a 56 second half and a 1:24 1/5 three-quarters, and then pulled clear to tally by 2 1/2 lengths in 1:52 4/5. Do It Like Bobbi (Tony Hall) was the runner-up and Twenty (David Miller) took third.

Another member of the Burke Brigade, the winning Downbytheseaside filly was bred by Steiner Stock Farm, and is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC., Weaver Bruscemi LLC., Knox Services Inc., and Hatfield Stables. She has compiled a summary of 15-3-2 from 22 career starts, and she has now banked $1,005,153. Sent off at 1-9, Sea Silk paid $2.10 to win.

"She's very special. You can't thank the Burke Brigade enough," said winning co-owner Kris Brechler of Knox Services Inc. "She's an unbelievable filly."

Little Brown Jug champion Bythemissal gave the Page/Burke team their third champion when he won the 3-year-old colt and gelding pace in 1:52 1/5. Bythemissal got away fourth, moved to the outside, and then picked up cover from pocket-sitter Rose Run Xiled (Dan Noble) after the 1:23 2/5 three-quarters. Bythemissal then pounced three-wide in the lane, rallying by horses and on to a 2 1/4 length victory over stablemate Terminator. Rose Run Xiled held third.

"Not probably my ideal spot getting away fourth at 1-9, but the fractions were kind of in my favor, half in 55 and piece," said Page. "He's just a good horse; there's just not bad spots for good horses.

"Ohio is back baby. The state is booming. Our sires stakes program is awesome, and that was kind of like the icing on the cake for us. Still a little work to be done, I think the Breeders Crown is next, but it's a good feeling."

Bythemissal, who was bred by Dr. Stephen Dey III, is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC., Eric Good, Rich Lombardo Racing LLC., and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. Bythemissal is a 12-time winner from 14 career starts, and he has now banked $983,525. He returned $2.10 to win as the 1-9 favorite.

"He came out of the (Little Brown Jug) beautifully, and he had a great week," said assistant trainer Mickey Burke Jr. "Fortunately he showed up as he always does. The colt just keeps going and getting better and better."