Miami Valley: Beaver's battalion of filly trotters show strength in Ohio Sires Stakes

Aunt Rose led a big night in Ohio Sires Stakes action for trainer Chris Beaver by equaling the Miami Valley track record of 1:54 for a sophomore trotting filly in the second of two $50,000 splits on Friday night.

Driven by Ronnie Wrenn Jr., Aunt Rose followed along on the inside in the three-hole, angled out in the stretch, and came on to win by a length and a half. Beaver would also finish second and third in the race, with pocket-sitter Pure Chance (Jason Thompson) and leader Weslynn Quest (Brett Miller) following their stablemate under the finish line.

Beaver also co-owns Aunt Rose, a daughter of Uncle Peter, with partners Michael Carter, Joe Sbrocco, and Steven Zeehandelar. This was her third career win, and she has earned $88,588. The 3-2 choice, she paid $5.00 to win.

Back in the opening section on the trot, Beaver trainee Bella's Rose Power (Kayne Kauffman) would win in 1:54 4/5. She put up fractions of 28 1/5, 57 2/5, and 1:25 1/5, put away the extended first-over bid of defending sire stakes champion Only Take Cash (Aaron Merriman) through the lane, and held sway to win by a head over her passing lane-shooting stablemate Stone In Love (Wrenn Jr.). Only Take Cash had to settle for third.

A filly by Triumphant Caviar, whom Beaver also trained through his career, Bella's Rose Power is owned by Beaver, James Gallagher, Marion Beachy, and Steven Zeehandelar. Bella's Rose Power is now a four-time winner, and she has pocketed $127,135. She was the 5-2 second choice and returned $7.20 to win.

There were also a pair of $50,000 Ohio Sires Stakes races for 3-year-old pacing fillies on the card, with wins going to Avaline Hanover and 2-year-old champion Queen Of The Pride.

Avaline Hanover (Chris Page) popped pocket to take the lead past the 26 4/5 opening quarter, backed down the half to 56, kept control to three-quarters in 1:25, and fought off a drifting-out Rylee Roo (Merriman) around the far turn and through the lane, winning by three-parts of a length in 1:52 1/5. High Reward (Wrenn Jr.) checked in third.

Ron Burke trains Avaline Hanover, a daughter of Dragon Again, for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Larry Karr, Jandt Silva Purnel & Libby, and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. Avaline Hanover made her fifth appearance in the winner's circle, and she pushed her bankroll to $83,490. She was the even-money favorite and paid $4.20 to win.

Queen Of The Pride (Tony Hall) dusted the competition in the other flight, front-stepping through fractions of 27 4/5, 56 4/5, and 1:24 2/5 before coming home in 27 2/5 to win by 5 1/2 lengths. Rose Run Uptowngal (Page) and Carmen Ohio (Ryan Stahl) were second and third, respectively.

Kevin Lare trains and Frank Chick owns Queen Of The Pride, who competed both in Ohio and on the Grand Circuit last season. She scored her eighth triumph, and she now shows earnings of $421,454. She was dispatched at 1-9 and returned $2.10 to win.