Grove City, Ohio — The fourth race of the Ohio Sires Stakes for young trotting colts was open to everyone on Saturday evening (August 24) at MGM Northfield Park. In both $65,000 divisions, the action only got exciting in the final meters. Outer Banks and Paris’s Dragon achieved OSS victories for the first time this year.
Outer Banks and Ronnie Wrenn Jr. won the first division in 1:52. The Downbytheseaside gelding started alertly from the inside lane and easily took control of the field. At 1-9, Outer Banks set split times of 27.3 and 56.4 before being passed. En route to the three-quarter pole of 1:24.1, Hundred Dollar Man (Montrell Teague) opened the gap and easily pulled away from the lead. Outer Banks refused to give up, fighting back through the passing lane and winning by a head.
Hundred Dollar Man took second place, Racing Rebel (Austin Hanners) took third.
Ron Burke trains Outer Banks. He has earned top marks in nine of 13 starts this season, earning $99,503 for Burke Racing Stable, RAS Racing, J&T Silva – Purnel & Libby and Weaver Bruscemi.
Paris’s Dragon won the second division in 1:51.4. Teague gave the Fear The Dragon gelding a perfect pocket ride. Paris’s Dragon trailed favorite Rose Run Zane (Hanners) 6-5 as they opened the divisions in :27.1 and :56.4. Rose Run Zane then made an uncharacteristic break on the back. Starting from first place, Clever Cody (Aaron Merriman) took the lead at the 1:24 three-quarter mark. Paris’s Dragon answered the call when Teague pushed him out of the pocket at the end of the homestretch. Paris’s Dragon fought through and won by a neck.
Clever Cody finished second while Rose Run Zane finished third.
Paris’s Dragon has won half of his fourteen starts this season. Christi Noble trains for owner and breeder Dennis Owens and Norman Rae Racing. His lifetime earnings are $263,767.
The Ohio Sires Stakes continue on Friday (August 30) at Eldorado Scioto Downs with the Aged Veteran Championships. The first race starts at 5:45 p.m.
