Northfield: Sons of Triumphant Caviar, Uncle Peter divvy up Ohio Sires Stakes victories

Expect The Sweep and Exhibit Class, both by Triumphant Caviar, and It's Academic and Big Box Hanover, a pair by Uncle Peter, were the winners of the four $40,000 sections of the second round of Ohio Sires Stakes races for 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters that took place on Friday at Northfield Park.

Aaron Merriman guided both Triumphant Caviar sons to victory, starting with Expect The Sweep in the opener. He fronted the field through panels of 29, 59 1/5, and 1:28 1/5, then closed in 29 1/5 to win by a length over a closing Count On Barney (Kurt Sugg). Action Uncle (Brett Miller) came in third.

Out of the Lockkeeper mare Locksweeper, Expect The Sweep was a $23,00 Ohio Selected Yearling Sale buy for trainer Chris Beaver and his ownership partners Leo Fleming, Martin Yoder, and Steven Zeehandelar. Bred by Riina Rekila, Expect The Sweep broke his maiden in his second chance, and he paid $7.60 to win as the 5-2 third choice.

Exhibit Class and Merriman were first-over in the next division, chasing Beaver-trained Attache' (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.), who took the lead past the 29 second opening quarter, then hit the half in 58 4/5 and the three-quarters in 1:28 3/5. Exhibit Class and Attache' were head-and-head at three-quarters, continued their battle around the final bend and into the lane, but Exhibit Class prevailed, winning by a length in 1:58 1/5. Larochelle Hanover (Hunter Myers) got third.

Sean Smith-Peters trains Exhibit Class for owner Marion Beachy, who also bred him with Beaver, David Lang, and James Gallagher. Out of the Classic Photo mare Classic Blaze, Exhibit Class improved from second in the opening leg at Scioto Downs to the victory tonight and returned $3.20 to win as the 3-5 favorite.

It's Academic (Chris Page) was pocketed through fractions of 29 1/5, 59 2/5, and 1:28 3/5 set by Doubleyellowline (Miller) in the third split, then attacked as the pace-setter got rough nearing three-quarters. Doubleyellowline collected his gait back going into the far turn and tried to fend off It's Academic's bid, but it was to no avail as the outside pursuer went by, winning by a length and a quarter in 1:57 3/5. Doubleyellowline did hold second, with Pete Stamas (Kayne Kauffman) back in third.

The victorious Uncle Peter-Annapolis (Muscle Hill) colt is trained by Ron Burke for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., W.J. Donovan, Joe Sbrocco, and Hatfield Stables. It's Academic, who was bred by Gbw Breeding Farms Inc. and brought $50,000 at the Ohio Selected Yearling Sale, has won all three of his starts and paid $4.00 to win as the even-money favorite tonight.

Rounding out the sire stakes winners for the night was Big Box Hanover (Trevor Smith), who halted the clock in 1:59. 110-1 shot Megabank K (Jason Thompson) led at the 28 2/5 quarter, 58 4/5 half, and 1:28 2/5 three-quarters, but Big Box Hanover, who had come first-over from third, got up in the stretch to score by half a length. Howyadoinbub (Miller) was the runner-up, with Greek Legend (Kauffman) third.

An Uncle Peter-Box Of Dreams (Donerail) gelding, Big Box Hanover is co-owned by trainer Dalton Walls and Bruce Soulsby. A $13,000 Ohio Selected Yearling Sale acquisition, Big Box Hanover was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms Inc. and has won both of his Ohio Sires Stakes appearances. He was the 9-5 second choice and returned $5.80 to win.