Scioto: Rock N Republic, Charlie May victorious in Ohio Sires Stakes

Rock N Republic came out of nowhere to capture the first of two $50,000 divisions of Ohio Sires Stakes for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings on June 19 at Scioto Downs.

Piloted expertly by Josh Sutton, the brown gelding by Pet Rock stormed past the field coming out of the final turn to capture his OSS contest in a lifetime-best of 1:51 3/5. Trained by Robert Taylor for Dossie L. Minor of Springfield, Ohio, the brown gelding pushed his career earnings to $68,522 with this latest triumph, the tenth of his life in 16 starts.

Bred by L&J Racing, Rock N Republic is out of the Dragon Again mare My Juliana's Girl p, 4, 1:52 3/5f ($121,560) and is a half-brother to Juliana The Barn (by Art Major) p, 3, 1:55 4/5f ($25,480). This second leg of the four-round series was Rock N Republic's first venture into OSS competition.

The winner left the gate at 7-1 odds and finished a neck in front of the late-charging 7-2 Laughagain Hanover (Dan Noble), with I'm Sorry Man getting up for third in the late going for driver Chris Page at odds of 2-1.

The second OSS division was a slugfest between the two top rivals in this division, Heart Of Chewbacca and Charlie May, who battled from the three-quarter marker to the wire, with the latter grabbing a half-length decision over the former in 1:49 3/5. Driven by Brett Miller as the 8-5 second choice, Charlie May picked up his ninth career win for breeder-owner Don R. Tiger of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania.

The gelded son of McArdle pushed his lifetime bankroll to $368,627. He is the seventh of nine foals out of the unraced Western Hanover mare Stipple Hanover and has half-siblings in Velocity Stifler (by Arts Chip) p, 3, 1:50 3/5f ($217,143) and Nikki Bella (by Arts Chip) p,2, 1:55f ($47,005), and in the 2-year-old Racing Hill colt Shane Falco, p, 2, Q1:56 3/5.

Heart Of Chewbacca was the 2-5 public choice with Dan Noble driving, while 17-1 longshot KB Mac was third for Hunter Myers.

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