Northfield: Ellagator heads Ohio Sires Stakes winners

This year's Ohio Sires Stakes races for 2-year-old pacing fillies began on Friday night at Northfield Park with four $40,000 events.

Ellagator (Western Vintage-Dame Truth) rallied in the passing lane from the pocket and won the third section in 1:54, which ended up the fastest of the four-pack. Ellagator was driven by Ronnie Wrenn Jr. for trainer Chris McGuire and owner Howard Taylor. Purchased for $24,000 at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, Ellagator was bred by Nancy Johansson.

Artful Dancer (Yankee Cruiser-Dancin Caroll) brushed to the lead before the 58 3/5 half and opened up in the final quarter to take the first split in 1:55 2/5 for driver Brett Miller and trainer Steve Carter. Owned by Carter and partner Jay Mossbarger, Artful Dancer was a $32,000 Ohio Selected buy bred by Midland Acres Inc., Daniel Drake, and Cynthia Drake. The dam is a Sportswriter half-sister to near $2 million earner Dancin Yankee.

Treasurethosechips (Art's Chip-Give Me Points) made front before the 29 second opening quarter, repelled a first-over advance from Wiggling Jenna (Kyle Arter) through the 58 3/5 and 1:26 3/5 middle-half and held sway to the wire to win the second division in 1:55 1/5 for Greg Grismore and trainer Jeff Nisonger. The winner is owned by John Van Horn and was bred by Ohio's own "The Wizard" Pacey Mindlin, along with Kenneth Cohen.

Completing the winners was McMarkle Sparkle (McArdle-It's Ladies Nite), who led much of the way and held safe through the lane to win in 1:54 3/5 for driver Miller and trainer Jim Arledge Jr. McMarkle Sparkle is a homebred for Laura and Paul Baker.