Northfield: Fire Cross, Panzano break maidens in Ohio Sires Stakes

Fire Cross notched his first career victory in a big way by taking the first of two $50,000 Ohio Sires Stakes for 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings on Monday night, August 10 at Northfield Park.

The son of Triumphant Caviar scored his win in a modest 1:58 1/5 with Chris Lems driving for trainer Ryan Miller and owners Miller Racing Stable, Horseplace Racing Stable, M. Hayes, and Darmofal Racing Enterprises. The brown gelding left the gate at odds of 15-1, with 5-2 Replica Hanover (Tyler Smith) holding on for second, and 25-1 Tango With Me (Aaron Merriman) picking up third-place money.

Bred by Steve Stewart, Fire Cross was third in his leg one division and second in his split of leg two and pushed his career earnings to $43,480 with this maiden victory. The doggedly-determined trotter is the fifth foal out of the Muscles Yankee Classical Mary (1:55 2/5, $207,811) and is a full brother to Fraser Ridge (1:52 1/5, $522,479).

Panzano took the second OSS contest for driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr. in 1:58 3/5, also making his first career win a stakes victory. The son of Coraggioso is trained by Chris Beaver for the Spaaaartners of Ballston Spa, New York. The bay gelding was an 11-1 shot, with 5-2 Street Gossip (Brett Miller) getting up for second, and 16-1 Triple M Storm (Ryan Stahl) grabbing show honors.

Panzano now has $42,520 in career earnings from one win, a second, and a third in four attempts. He finished second in his first leg of the OSS and fifth in his flight of the second leg. Bred by Christopher Coyle, he is the first foal out of the SJ's Caviar mare Grace N Charlie (1:55 4/5, $225,830).

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