Scioto: Herculisa swiftest in Ohio Sires Stakes events

Two-year-old trotting colts and fillies battled on a steamy Friday night, July 17 at Scioto Downs in seven $40,000 divisions of the second leg of Ohio Sires Stakes events.

Swizzle Hanover remained perfect in her brief career by winning the first filly division in 1:57 4/5 for driver Mike Wilder and trainer-owner Randy Bendis. The daughter of Uncle Peter left the gate as the 1-5 favorite and now has $40,000 in career earnings from her two OSS victories. Newcomer Ciao Baby Hall (Aaron Merriman) got up for a close second at 6-1, with 12-1 Momma Knows Best (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) notching third-place honors.

Street Gossip, the even-money choice, captured the first colt and gelding trotting division in 1:57 with Brett Miller driving for Virgil Morgan Jr. The son of Cash Hall was a solid third in his OSS leg one contest and now has $26,694 in career earnings for Carl Howard and the Jesmeral Stable. Replica Hanover (Tyler Smith) was second at 7-2, with Rose Run Wilson (Wilder) third.

Spyder The Striker cruised to a 1:57 4/5 victory in the second OSS colt and gelding trot with Merriman at the lines. The son of Uncle Peter is trained by Chris Beaver for the partnership of Beaver, Beaver, Fleming, and Vip Internet. It was his second straight win in the OSS series and upped his career earnings to $40,000. Fire Cross (Kayne Kauffman) was second at 22-1, with 63-1 My Thunder third for Dan Noble.

Herculisa, the 1-5 favorite, took her OSS test in the same fashion she captured leg one, with a front-stepping effort for Miller and Morgan Jr. Her winning time of 1:56 2/5 was just two-fifths of a second off the track record. Owned by Jesmeral Stable, the daughter of My MVP now has three career triumphs in as many starts and owns a bankroll of $41,812. Magic Credit Card (9-1) was second for Wrenn Jr., with 9-1 Ozma getting up for third with Merriman at the lines.

Celebrate With Me took the lead at the three-quarters and never looked back in the third OSS contest for trotting fillies, stopping the timer in 1:56 4/5. Kurt Sugg steered the daughter of Full Count for trainer Marty Wollam, who co-owns the filly in partnership with Toni Dean. It was Celebrate With Me's first career victory and pushed her career earnings to $25,472. Bank My Way, a 44-1 longshot, was second for Chris Page, while 26-1 Ti Punch was third for Cameron McCown.

Merry Ann, the 1-2 favorite, cruised to an impressive 1:57 4/5 triumph for Page and trainer Ron Burke in the fourth OSS filly trot. The daughter of Southwind Spirit is owned by Burke Racing, Knox Services, and Weaver Bruscemi and picked up her first career victory with the OSS win. Her earnings now stand at $31,700. A Doll Face (3-1) was second for Kauffman, while 53-1 Cash N Chips was third for Dan Rawlings.

Winning Ticket proved to be just that as he captured the final OSS trot for 2-year-old colts and geldings in 1:57 1/5. The son of Triumphant Caviar was driven to his first career victory as the 6-5 favorite by Merriman for Beaver and owners Beaver, Zeehandelar Homan, and Burnett. Perron was second for Wrenn Jr., while Pete's Passion, a 43-1 longshot, got up for third with Sugg in the bike.

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