Grove City, Ohio – The fourth race of the Ohio Sires Stakes for second-year trotters was open to the public on Saturday night (August 24) at MGM Northfield Park. Both divisions, with prize money of $65,000, came down to the wire with Outer Banks and Paris’s Dragon scoring their first OSS wins this year.
Outer Banks (Below) and Ronnie Wrenn Jr. won the first division in 1:52. The gelding started alertly from the inside lane and easily took control of the field. At 1-9, Outer Banks posted splits of :27.3 and :56.4 before being passed. Heading to the three-quarter pole in 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.
OUTER BANKS REPEAT
The Dragon of Paris (Fear the dragon) won the second division in 1:51.4. Teague gave the gelding the perfect pocket ride. Paris’s Dragon was behind 6-5 favorite Rose Run Zane (Hanners) 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 three-quarter mark of 1:24. 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.
PARIS’ DRAGON REPEAT
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.
Click here to view the full race results: Results of the US Trotting Competition
from Ashley Daileyfor the OHHA
