Northfield: Winning Ticket remains undefeated in 2021

Seven Ohio Sires Stakes were contested on a pleasant Saturday evening, Aug. 14 at Northfield Park. The fourth and final leg of the series for 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings solidified the top eight contenders who will vie in the $300,000 Championship, set for Sept. 5 at Northfield.

Sitting atop the standings with nine undefeated starts this season is Winning Ticket, who cruised to an easy 1:54 1/5 triumph for Aaron Merriman in the first of two $50,000 divisions for 3-year-old colt and gelding trotters over the Cleveland half-miler. Owned by Chris Beaver, Steve Zeehandelar, Tim Homan, and James Burnett, the son of Triumphant Caviar notched his 13th career victory and pushed his career earnings to a hefty $284,547 with this latest win. Winning Ticket, who was bred by James Bender, has earned $100,000 in Ohio Sires Stakes competition alone this season, winning his previous OSS legs in 1:55 3/5, 1:54, and 1:53 1/5 before this latest score.

McStoned Again took a new career mark of 1:56 in the second $50,000 split for sophomore trotting colts and geldings with Tony Hall at the lines. The son of Wishing Stone is conditioned by Crist Hershberger for owner Sonia Vermilye and picked up his sixth career victory and first in OSS competition. This homebred, who finished a solid third in leg two, upped his earnings to $58,745 with this triumph.

► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter

A trio of $40,000 Ohio Sires Stakes for 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings saw Up Blueberry Hill, The Mighty Hill and Slim Jimmy all take their respective divisions. Up Blueberry Hill, a 4-1 shot, posted a 1:57 clocking for driver Chris Page and trainer Ron Burke, with 7-5 favorite The Mighty Hill trotting to a 1:56 1/5 clocking, lowering his own track record for a 2-year-old trotting gelding for Aaron Merriman. Chris Beaver trains the son of What The Hill. Slim Jimmy, who hails from the barn of Jason McGinnis, scored in 1:56 3/5 for Anthony MacDonald in his division as the 1-5 favorite.

Finally, two $50,000 Ohio Sires Stakes contests for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings saw 2-1 Terminator score in 1:52 2/5 for trainer Ron Burke and driver Chris Page, and 8-1 Tre Cruz posted a 1:52 2/5 clocking for driver Brett Miller and trainer Steve Carter in third round action.

Round four of the 2021 Ohio Sires Stakes season wraps up next weekend with races on Friday night, Aug. 20 at Scioto Downs for 3-year-old filly trotters and pacers; on Saturday night, Aug. 21 at Scioto Downs for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers and 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters and pacers, and on Sunday night, Aug. 22 at Northfield Park with divisions for 2-year-old filly trotters and pacers.

Ohio Sires Stakes Championships get underway beginning on Saturday, Sept. 4 with four $85,000 Veterans Championships for 4-year-olds and up at Scioto Downs, followed by the $300,000 Championships for 2- and 3-year-olds at Northfield on Sunday, Sept. 5. The $75,000 Consolations for 2- and 3-year-olds will be raced on Friday, Oct. 2 at Dayton Raceway.

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