Northfield: Action Uncle sets track record in Ohio Sire Stakes

Four divisions of the Ohio Sire Stakes went to post on Saturday evening (June 13) at Northfield Park, with Action Uncle setting a track record during the quartet of races.

Yanks Dugout took a front-end journey to capture the first of two $50,000 Ohio Sires Stakes (OSS) for 3-year-old trotting sires. Driven by Kurt Sugg, the dark brown gelded son of Triumphant Caviar was much the best as the 6-5 choice and recorded a new life mark of 1:54 1/5 with his seventh career victories in as many tries this year.

Trained by Edward Miller, Yanks Dugout upped his career earnings to $46,333 for owners Ivan & Duke Sugg of Dreshler, Ohio, who also bred the gelding. Wading Boots (Chris Page) was second best at 7-5, one and a quarter lengths behind the winner, with 5-1 Expect The Sweep third for Aaron Merriman.

Yanks Dougout is the fourth foal out of the prolific Muscles Yankee mare Yansky 3, 1:57f ($122,127) and has half-siblings in Yanks Ball Girl (by Majestic Son) 4, 1:57f ($60,722); Fashion Can Do It (by Cantab Hall) 3, 1:58 1/5f ($30,030); and Yanks DJ (by Dejarmbro) 2,Q2:04 3/5f ($5,509).

In the second $50,000 OSS division for trotters, Action Uncle set a new Northfield Park track record for 3-year-old trotters of 1:53 2/5 with a perfect steer from driver Brett Miller. Trained by Virgil Morgan, Jr., the son of Uncle Peter left the gate at 1-2 odds and upped his career earnings to $256,075 for owners Carl Howard, Joyce McClelland and Larry Wills. Action Uncle finished well ahead of second-place finisher 9-5 It’s Academic (Chris Page), with Buxton (Danny Noble) putting in a game performance to be third. Bred by Kenneth Sommer, Action Uncle is the first foal out of the Broadway Hall mare Action-Broadway 4, 1:52 3/5 ($1,102,073).

Haggard got up in the final strides for driver Ryan Stahl and trainer Scott Cox to capture the first $50,000 OSS test for 3-year-old pacers in a new career clocking of 1:53. The large black gelding by Big Bad John was bred by Spring Haven Farm and is owned by Parent Racing Stable of Whitehouse, OH. Haggard, who finished half a length in front of 2-1 Mr Wiggle It (Ronnie Wrenn, Jr.), left the gate at 5-1 odds, while 16-1 longshot Epic Ace (Danny Noble) got up for third.

Haggard now has $36,475 in his coffers from four wins in six career starts. He is the eighth foal out of the unraced Dragon Again mare Tura Hanover and is a full brother to Angry Shelby p, 3, 1:54 1/5f ($62,530) and a half-brother to: Town Temptress (by Artiscape) p, 5, 1:51 3/5 ($305,008); All Turain (by Tell All) p, 4, 1:52 2/5h ($127,138); and Tural Lural Lural (by The Panderosa) p,4, 1:53 1/5f ($124,259), etc.

Sandra Burnett's homebred bay gelding Ocean Rock demolished his competition in 1:50 2/5 in the second $50,000 OSS contest for sophomore sidewinders. Driven by Danny Noble for trainer Christi Noble, the son of Rockin Amadeus crusied to victory after leading at every pole as the 1-2 choice. Standford Court (Ronnie Wrenn, Jr.) was second at 7-2 with 4-1 Can Be Perfect (Tyler Smith) getting up for third. Ocean Rock now sports a bankroll of $187,377 lifetime. He is the first foal out of the On The Attack mare Ocean Pearl p,5,1:53 2/5f ($143,637). Three-year-old colts return to battle in OSS Leg 2 on June 26 at Scioto Downs.

-edited release (Kimberly Rinker for OSDF)