Northfield: Outer Banks, Paris's Dragon shine in Ohio Sires Stakes

Outer Banks and Paris's Dragon were triumphant in two $65,000 Ohio Sires Stakes showdowns for sophomore male pacers on Saturday night at MGM Northfield Park.

Sent off at 1-9 in the first flight, Outer Banks (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) tipped out of the pocket coming to the 27 3/5 quarter and took the lead away from Hundred Dollar Man (Montrell Teague) just after that marker. Outer Banks would go on to the half in 56 4/5, but Teague pulled out of the pocket on the third turn and got command of the race for a second time beyond the 1:24 1/5 three-quarters.

Despite giving up control, Outer Banks didn't lose interest, and when the passing lane became available in the stretch, he rallied back around Hundred Dollar Man for the win by half a length in 1:52. Racing Rebel (Austin Hanners) vacated the pylons from third on the final bend and rounded out the trifecta.

A Downbytheseaside gelding bred by Frank Nanna, Outer Banks is trained by Ron Burke for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., R A S Racing LLC., J&T Silva- Purnel & Libby and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. This was his seventh victory, he has now earned $177,013 and he paid $2.20 to win.

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In the other division Rose Run Zane (Austin Hanners) tipped out of the two-hole before the 27 1/5 opening quarter and pressed on past Paris's Dragon (Teague) to land on the engine. On the second turn, Clever Cody (Aaron Merriman) began a first-over advance out of the sixth position that put him alongside Paris's Dragon in second as Rose Run Zane clicked off a 56 4/5 half.

Clever Cody sustained his drive on the rim and joined Rose Run Zane on the third bend, then ended up on the lead in the backstretch as Rose Run Zane broke and bothered Paris's Dragon. Teague had to guide Paris's Dragon wide to get around Rose Run Zane but was able to drop back down into the two-hole passing the 1:24 three-quarters before he moved him to the outside again on the fourth turn.

Paris's Dragon still had another bid in him despite the interference and multiple moves, as he was first able to chase down Clever Cody in the stretch and then got by him late to get the victory by a neck in 1:51 4/5. Rose Run Zane wound up third and the judges determined that he had not committed any violations or bothered any horses besides Paris's Dragon while off-stride, so he kept that position.

Christi Noble trains Paris's Dragon, a gelded son of Fear The Dragon, for owner/breeder Dennis Owens and partner Norman Rae Racing. Paris's Dragon had a summary of 8-4-3 from 22 outings, he has put away $263,767 and he returned $8.40 to win as the second choice.