Harness: Ohio sophomore colts set for Sire Stakes action

The first leg of the Ohio Sires Stakes wraps up Saturday afternoon at Miami Valley Raceway as two divisions of 3-year-old trotters and pacers will do battle. Thirteen trainers will send 17 trotters and 16 pacers to the post with

Chris Beaver and Ron Burke leading the way with six starters each.

In the first division of trotters, Burke starts Rose Run Xtra, the morning line favorite at 5-2. Rose Run Xtra by Cash Hall was the runner-up in last year's Sires Stakes final. Chris Page will drive the colt for the ownership group of Burke Racing Stables, Hatfield Stables, Knox Services, and Jason Mellilo.

Beaver will have three starters including Gabbys Bit Coin who finished third in last year's Sires Stakes final. The son of Uncle Peter is owned by Beaver and his mother Johanna. Brett Miller will drive the morning line second choice at 7-2.

Also, in the field is I Love My MVP, who will be looking for his fourth win of the season. The Dirk Simpson trainee did not race as a two-year-old and ships in from The Meadows for his first Ohio start. I Love My MVP is the third choice at 4-1 and is owned by the Dirk Simpson Stables.

In the second division, Beaver will send out the freshman trotting colt of the year in Ohio, The Mighty Hill. The son of What The Hill won the Ohio Sires Stakes finals last year. Owned by Beaver, Donald Robinson, and VIP Internet Stable, LLC, The Mighty Hill hopes to bounce back from his ninth-place finish in the James K. Hackett Memorial where he broke stride in the final stretch. Miller will get the call on the 7-2 second choice.

The Mighty Hill's stablemate Caviar Gold will be the 2-1 early favorite in the race. Aaron Merriman will drive the son of Triumphant Caviar, who set a new lifetime mark of 1:53 4/5 winning the Hackett Memorial, Beaver co-owns The Mighty Hill with Bill Manes, Leo Fleming, and Steve Zeehandelar.

Two other horses will be looking for their fourth wins of the year. Guido Di and Motto are the third and fourth choices at 9-2 and 6-1. Steve Schoeffel trains Guido Di for owners Virginia Schoeffel, Kathy Schoeffel, Lewis Falton, and Sara Zidek, while Motto, who finished second in the Hackett, is trained by Clarence Foulk for the Foulk Stables and William Hartt.

On the pacing side, Burke will send out the top two choices, Seaside Way (2-1) and Barry's Berries (5-2) in the first division.

Seaside Way has hit the board in all five starts this year and finished second in the Hackett Memorial. Chris Page will drive for the ownership group of Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Knox Services, and Slaughter Racing Stable.

Seaside Way stablemate Barry’s Berries won the Hackett in a lifetime best of 1:50 1/5. Tony Hall will be back in the bike looking to win for the third time this year. Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Knox Services also own Barry's Berries along with J&T Silva-Purnel & Libby.

Also in the field is last year's Ohio Sires Stakes Consolation winner Velocity Chaps. Velocity Chaps will be making his first start of the year for trainer Mark Evers. The son of Well Said won four times in nine starts last year for owners Velocity Standardbreds. Josh Sutton will drive the 8-1 choice.

Seaside Way and Barry's Berries are two of the four colts sired by Downbytheseaside in the first division. Overall, Downbytheseaside is the sire of nine of the 16 pacers racing in the first leg.

The favorite in the second division is sired by Downbytheseaside. Risenshine Seaside is 5-2 on the morning line. Trained by Brian Brown, last year's runner-up in the Ohio Sires Stakes Consolation final, is looking for his third win of the year. Aaron Merriman will drive Risenshine Seaside for owners Hutchinson Harness LLC.

The second division will feature two Burke entries, Bythemissal, the second choice at 3-1, and 5-1 choice Terminator. Page will pilot Bythemissal, who won his first start, while Hall will drive Terminator. Both are also sired by Downbytheseaside.

Bythemissal is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Eric Good, Rich Lombardo Racing, and Weaver Bruscemi.

Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi also own Terminator in partnership with Knox Services and J&T Silva Stables.

Post time for the final day of racing at Miami Valley Raceway this year is 12:05 PM.

-edited release (OHHA)