Aaron Merriman and trainer Chris Beaver captured both $50,000 divisions of Ohio Sires Stakes for 3-year-old colt and gelding trotters on a lovely Saturday summer evening, June 5 at Northfield Park. Spaaaartners' Panzano captured the first OSS contest in a brisk 1:55 3/5 after stalking the leading Street Gossip (Brett Miller) from the pocket and going by him on the way to the win. "Chris's horses are always tight and ready to race," said Merriman, who drove the son of Corraggioso. Panzano pushed his career earnings to $139,724 and posted his fourth career victory in 13 starts. Panzano was bred by Chris Coyle and is the first foal out of his dam Grace N Charlie (by SJ's Caviar), who earned $225,830 and took an 8-year-old record of 1:55 4/5. Both Panzano and Street Gossip left the gate at 4-5 odds, while third place Elliotstone (DeWayne Minor) was a 24-1 shot. Winning Ticket kept his unbeaten season intact with a front-stepping 1:54 victory in the second OSS flight.  With Merriman driving for Beaver, the son of Triumphant Caviar is now two-for-two in this series. "I love this horse," opined Beaver. "He's the nicest son of Triumphant Caviar that I've trained.  My goal is to keep him on track for the 3-year-old Championship here at Northfield in September. He should have won last year's 2-year-old Championship but came up sick for that race." Lockbox (6-1) got up for second for driver Chris Page, with 45-1 longshot Omyheart finishing third for Tyler Smith. Winning Ticket is owned by Beaver, Steve Zeehandelar, Tim Homan, and Jim Burnett and was bred by James Bender. He upped his career coffers to $199,547 with this win, the ninth of his career and fifth in as many starts this season. Winning Ticket is the second foal out of his dam, the hardy Credit Winner race mare Lotto Winner, 7, 1:56 1/5 ($166,461). Two $50,000 Ohio Sires Stakes contests for 3-year-old fillies also provided thrills for the Northfield Park crowd on Saturday night. In the first division 1-9 favorite Summer Touch notched her second straight victory in the series for driver Chris Page and trainer Ron Burke, clocked in 1:52 3/5. The daughter of Well Said had captured her first OSS event in 1:53 1/5 at Miami Valley for owners Burke Racing Stable, Knox Services, Slaughter Racing, and Weaver Bruscemi. "There's no other word for this filly than special," Page said. "Last year she won the Ohio Triple Crown and came back great this year at three." Last year's $300,000 OSS Championship winner now has $353,800 in the bank from nine wins and two seconds in 11 starts. Summer Touch scored her triumph in wire-to-wire fashion, besting longshot rivals 60-1 Ball Diamond (Billy Davis Jr.) and 45-1 Lacey (Brett Miller). Smothastenesewisky, a 7-2 shot, pulled off a mild upset in the second OSS division, stopping the timer in a career-best 1:52 for driver Hunter Myers, who was piloting the daughter of Nob Hill High for trainer Brian D. Haynes of Washington Court House, Ohio. "She didn't leave the gate the way I had wanted to, so I got a second-over trip, and then when I pulled her three-wide down the backstretch, she had a lot of go and it worked out," Myers said. The victory was the first this season in four tries for Smothastenesewisky, who was bred by Robert Mondilio and Donald Robinson. She now has $105,981 in career earnings. Shameful Eyes was second for Aaron Merriman at 6-1 odds, while 7-1 Rainy Day Chic got up for third with Tony Hall in the bike. --press release (Ohio Standardbred Development Fund)--