Miami Valley: Wrenn Jr., Burke double in Ohio Sires Stakes opener

The 2021 Ohio Sires Stakes season got off to a sizzling start on a sunny and breezy Sunday afternoon, May 2 at Miami Valley Raceway.

In the first of two $50,000 divisions of 3-year-old pacing fillies, it was the favorite Lady Arthur who stole the show for trainer and co-owner Dr. Ian Moore. The homebred daughter of Arthur Blue Chip, out of the Mach Tree mare April Three, used front-stepping tactics to nail down her second triumph of the season in 1:53 3/5 with Ronnie Wrenn Jr. at the lines. Owned in partnership by Moore, R G McGroup LTD., and Serge Savard, she now has $110,931 in her career coffers. Lady Arthur finished two lengths in front of 11-1 rival She Knows It All (Brett Miller), with Babs Jansen (Kayne Kauffman) half a length back in third.

The lone $60,000 trotting division saw Wrenn Jr. back in the winner's circle; this time with the Ron Burke-trained Celebrate With Me (4-1), who got the garden trip before scoring the victory by half a length over Katie's Lucky Day (Trevor Smith), while Aaron Merriman brought 16-1 longshot Ozma up for third-place honors. The final time was 1:54 2/5. Bred by Marvin Raber, Celebrate With Me is a daughter of Full Count, out of the Andover Hall mare Glisten Hanover, and now has $202,472 in lifetime earnings. She is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Howard Taylor, Weaver Bruscemi, and Knox Services.

Burke harnessed the winner of the second pacing division, the even-money favorite Summer Touch, who paced to a winning time of 1:53 1/5 in a front-end effort with Chris Page at the controls. Last year's winner of the $300,000 Championship on Super Night, Summer Touch is a daughter of Well Said, out of the Real Desire mare Real Touch, and is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Knox Services, Slaughter Racing, and Weaver Bruscemi. The homebred winner of $323,000 lifetime finished 2 1/2 lengths ahead of Leave Her Wild (Mike Wilder), with Rainy Day Chic (Andy Shetler) nabbing third.

Ohio Sires Stakes action continues Monday, May 3 at Miami Valley Raceway with four divisions of 3-year-old colts and geldings. Post time is 2:05 p.m.

--press release (Ohio Standardbred Development Fund)--