Northfield: Two-year-old trotting colts tussle in Ohio Sires Stakes

The Ohio Sires Stakes season for rookie trotting colts commenced on Monday evening at Northfield Park with a five-pack of $40,000 divisions.

Driver Ryan Stahl won the first two splits in upset fashion, guiding 15-1 shot Homer Hall to a 1:59 3/5 win on the front-end in the opener, and then executing that strategy again in the second flight with Bosley, an 11-1 offering who stopped the clock in 1:59 2/5.

Homer Hall, a Broadway Hall gelding, is trained by Steve Carter, who also co-owns him with partners Jay Mossbarger and Cass Gallagher. Homer Hall, who is already three-for-three in his career, with this win joining two on the Ohio fair circuit, has now earned $23,599. Bred by Midland Acres Inc., he was a $15,000 buy at the Ohio Select Sale, is out of the Armbro Iliad mare Cynthia Iliad (1:58, $219,824), and is a half-brother to the likes of Allthatnabagofchip (Chip Chip Hooray, 1:53 3/5, $364,286). He paid $33.40 to win.

The victorious Manofmanymissions gelding Bosley is trained by Scott Cox for owners Parent Racing Stable LLC. and G. Peters, and this was Bosley's first win in his second career start. He was bred by Darvin and Ann Shaver, fetched $14,000 at the Ohio Select Yearling Sale, and is the first foal out of the unraced Chocolatier mare Nettie, a half-sister to the likes of Magglio (Coventry, 1:53 1/5, $313,575). He returned $24.00 to win.

1-2 choice Oh So Pine (Anthony MacDonald) sat fifth through panels of 29 4/5, 1:02, and 1:32 in the third division, but he made a three-wide charge in the final quarter that carried him to a 2:01 3/5 decision.

From the first crop of Uncle Peter, Oh So Pine has won both of his lifetime attempts and pocketed $25,250 for owner Thestable Oh So Pine Group and trainer Jason McGinnis. Oh So Pine, who brought $13,000 at the Ohio Select Yearling Sale, was bred by GBW Breeding Farms Inc. and is out of the unraced Pine Chip mare Pine Potion, which makes him a half-brother to the likes of Sundowner Bob (Muscles Yankee, 1:53 4/5, $517,561) and Bullet (Windsong's Legacy, 1:53 1/5, $303,500). He paid $3.00 to win.

TC's Best (Aaron Merriman) was the 3-5 pick of the public in the fourth section, and he didn't disappoint, leading all the way and winning in 1:59, the fastest of the night's divisions.

A first-time starter following two winning baby races, TC's Best is a Triumphant Caviar colt co-owned by trainer Chris Beaver and his partners James Gallagher, Mogerdelia Racing Inc., and Steven Zeehandelar. TC's Best, a $7,000 selection at the Buckeye Yearling Sale, is the first foal out of the Andover Hall mare Curvature Hanover (1:57 1/5, $67,599), and he returned $3.20 to win.

Lane Of Stone (Jeff Nisonger) rounded out the winners, as he made a four-wide charge from fifth on the final bend and sustained his brush through the stretch, getting up for a 1:59 3/5 mark.

Mark Winters Sr. trains Lane Of Stone, a Wishing Stone colt who has won both of his efforts and put away $21,424, for owners/breeders Harry and Iris Horowitz. He's the fourth foal out of the Lindy Lane mare Wisteria Lane (1:57 3/5, $18,559), and he paid $20.00 to win.