Scioto: Charlie May comes through in Ohio Sires Stakes

Seven Ohio Sires Stakes were contested on a humid Saturday night, Aug. 21 at Scioto Downs, with a trio of $40,000 events for 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings, two $50,000 events for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings, and a pair of $50,000 races for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers. All these events were the fourth and final leg of the series, with the highest point earners grabbing a starting berth in the $300,000 Championships at Northfield Park on Sept. 5.

Sophomore Pacing Colts & Geldings

Charlie May (1-9) scored a tough decision in 1:49 3/5 over rival Heart Of Chewbacca (5-1) in the second division. The son of McArdle wore down the leading Heart Of Chewbacca (Dan Noble) to notch his 13th career victory and sixth seasonal victory. Odds On Shaggy got up for third at odds of 14-1. Brett Miller drove the winner, who now has $424,850 in seasonal earnings and $753,477 in career earnings, for breeder-owner Don R. Tiger.

The smooth-pacing Borntobeshameless captured the first of two OSS contests in a swift 1:52 for driver Dan Noble and trainer Christi Noble. The son of Big Bad John paced to his second career victory in a lifetime-best clocking for owners James Morris, Dennis Owens, and Norman Rae Racing. The winner left the gate as a 9-2 shot, besting 7-1 Third Edition (Brett Miller), while 6-5 favorite Truly Noble (Aaron Merriman) finished third. Borntobeshameless now has $52,086 in his coffers because of this victory.

Charlie May leads all rivals in this division with 162 points, followed by Heart Of Chewbacca with 154 points and Four-Star Flash with 64 points, Borntobeshamelss with 52 points and Rock N Republic with 51 points. I'm Sorry Man has 49 points, Laughagain Hanover has 42 points, and Truly Noble has 40 points. These eight pacers have earned their way into their $300,000 Championship.

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Two-Year-Old Pacing Colts & Geldings

Gulf Shores left no doubt he was much the best in the first of the two OSS events, stopping the timer in 1:52 4/5 with Ronnie Wrenn Jr. at the lines. This son of Downbytheseaside had captured legs one and two in 1:52 4/5 and 1:51 3/5 but chose to sit out the third leg for owners Country Club Acres, Diamond Creek, and Wingfield Brothers. Conditioned by Brian Brown, Gulf Shores was the 1-9 favorite, beating 15-1 Rose Run Explosion (Chris Page), with 23-1 Vintage Cowboy (Dan Noble) third. Gulf Shores now has $101,500 in career earnings with this latest triumph, his fourth victory in as many starts.

Sling Shock, the 6-5 favorite, captured his third OSS victory by winning the second division. The son of Downbytheseaside was piloted by Dan Noble for trainer Christi Noble and owners Cimaglio, Richardson, Salmen, and Gilmartin to a 1:52 1/5 clocking, his fourth win in five lifetime starts. Terminator (2-1) was second for Chris Page, while Tre Cruz (5-1) was third for Brett Miller.

Sling Shock sits atop the OSS points with 179, Gulf Shores is second with 153 points, and Terminator third with 112 points. They are followed by Tre Cruz with 91 points and Seaside Way with 85 points. Also earning a starting berth in the Championship are Rose Run Xplosion (74 points), Buckeye Seaside (62 points), and Mr Nuttin Nice (52 points).

Two-Year-Old Trotting Colts & Geldings

Access, a son of Creatine who was making just his third lifetime start, captured the first OSS division in 1:56 3/5 for driver Dan Noble. The Bob Stewart trainee, a 9-5 offering, bested 7-5 Guido Di (Brady Brown) by a whisker at the wire, while 8-1 Body Armor (Kayne Kauffman) got up for third. This was Access's only foray into OSS competition, and the homebred upped his career earnings to $31,600 with the win.

Aaron Merriman gave The Mighty Hill a perfect steer to capture the second division by a whisker in 1:56 1/5 over stablemate and favorite (2-5) Gabbys Bit Coin (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.). The son of What The Hill picked up his fourth win in six starts and second in OSS competition. Chris Beaver trains for Beaver, Robinson, and Vip Internet. Wishing Max, a 66-1 longshot, was third for Anthony MacDonald. The Mighty Hill now has $63,485 in his lifetime bankroll.

Rose Run Xtra and driver Chris Page captured the third trotting division, stopping the timer in 1:56 3/5 at odds of 4-1. The son of Cash Hall is conditioned by Ron Burke for Burke Racing, Hatfield, Knox Services, and Melilio and picked up his first career victory with the OSS triumph, besting 1-1 favorite Caviar Gold (Aaron Merriman) and Unhitched, who is also conditioned by Burke. Rose Run Xtra, who was bred by Ohio's Rose Run Farm, upped his career earnings to $75,075.

Caviar Gold and Gabbys Bit Coin are tied for the lead among all freshmen trotting colts and geldings in the OSS standings with 128 points each, followed by Slim Jimmy (117 points), Rose Run Xtra (116 points), Guido Di (104 points), The Mighty Hill (103 points), Up Blueberry Hill (67 points), and Chulo (57 points).

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