Northfield: Favorites dominate in Ohio Sires Stakes

Black Magic, John Dutton, and Rumble Strips were first, second, and third, respectively, in the $150,000 The Next Generation event for 2-year-old male trotters at Scioto Downs on July 4, and they showed their results that day were a sign of things to come by capturing the three $40,000 Ohio Sires Stakes sections that occurred on Monday night at Northfield Park.

John Dutton won the first division in 1:58 2/5 for Chris Page and Ron Burke. John Dutton went two-wide out of fourth on the third turn and forged his way by leader Sunrise Hill (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) past the 1:29 4/5 three-quarters. After he took command, John Dutton pulled away, defeating Burton's Hill (Mitchell Cushing) by 3 1/2 lengths. A Real Legend (Don Irvine Jr.) overcame a break on the first turn to finish third.

A What The Hill-Fast Love colt, John Dutton was bred by Kahrig Racing Stable Co. and Nicholas Catalano and went to owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Knox Services Inc., Johnny Yoder, and Ras Racing LLC. for $33,000 at last year's Ohio Selected Jug Sale. John Dutton has a win and a second in two tries, has now earned $57,500, and paid $2.60 to win as the 1-5 favorite.

Rumble Strips (Kayne Kauffman) drove on two-wide after leaving from post seven in the next flight, and he would overtake No More Sweets (Brady Brown) for the top spot beyond the 29 1/5 opening quarter. Rumble Strips then reached the half in 1:00 and the three-quarters in 1:29 1/5, giving the cold shoulder to a first-up Diggin Hot Blondes (Jason Thompson) on the way to the latter marker. Rumble Strips put away Diggin Hot Blondes for good on the last turn and pulled away from his other pursuers as well, tallying by five lengths in 1:57 2/5. No More Sweets held off What A Mission (Anthony MacDonald) for third.

Mike Polhamus trains Rumble Strips, a Long Tom-Lady Glider colt bred by Franklin Equine LLC., for owners Constance Polhamus and Mary Beth Walters. Rumble Strips, a $40,000 purchase at the 2021 Ohio Selected Jug Sale, has a record of 1-0-1 from two trips beind the gate, has pocketed $38,000, and returned $5.80 to win as the 9-5 favorite.

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Last, but certainly not least, was Black Magic (Chris Lems), who clicked off panels of 29 3/5, 59 4/5, and 1:28 3/5 on his way to a 1:57 1/5 triumph in the final split. Jet Hill (Kurt Sugg) tried his best from the pocket but wound up second, a length and a half behind Black Magic, and The Buckeye Hill (Wrenn Jr.) checked in third.

Black Magic is a Full Count-Glisten Hanover colt trained by Steve Cross for owners Richard Gutnick, Tom Pontone, and Joseph Lozito Jr. Acquired for $65,000 at last year's Ohio Selected Jug Sale, Black Magic is four-for-four in the win column thus far, has banked $102,750, and paid $3.00 to win as the 1-2 choice.