The mile was a lifetime best for the Indiana-bred in his first race on a half-mile track.

by Jay Wolf

Indiana invader Odds On Osiris nipped the pace-setting Ocean Rock in the final strides to win the 6th edition of the $250,000 Carl Milstein Memorial Pace Saturday night (Aug. 15) at MGM Northfield Park.

Dan Noble gunned Ocean Rock out of the outside post #8 and grabbed the lead and controlled the first quarter in :26.

The bettor’s choice, Catch The Fire (Mike Wilder) was the first to move just before the half in :55, but faded before the three-quarters in 1:22.1.

Peter Wrenn angled Odds On Osiris out of the pocket in the final turn and it appeared that Noble and Wrenn may have locked wheels briefly at the top of the stretch. Wrenn was able to get Odds On Osiris by the game Ocean Rock to score the quarter-length victory. The fast closing Stanford Court (Ronnie Wrenn, Jr.) completed the trifecta.

The final time of 1:50.1 was a lifetime best for the 2019 Indiana Sire Stakes champion.

Melanie Wrenn trains the Rockin Image—Antigua Hanover gelding for Dana Parham’s Odds On Racing of Boca Raton, FL.

“He deserves that (win). He hasn’t been able to race consistently this year,” said the winning driver. “He’s never raced on a half (mile track) before… This is all brand new, but he handled it like a professional.”

A $60,000 purchase at the 2018 Hoosier Classic Yearling Sale, Odds On Osiris has now surpassed the $500,000 career earnings mark with his $125,000 first place check.

Next stop for Odds On Osiris will be the North America Cup eliminations on Aug. 22.

The race honors Carl Milstein, who owned Northfield Park from 1984 until his death in 1999. The Milstein family operated Northfield Park until July 2018.

Sectionline Bigry wins Myron Charna

The $50,000 Myron Charna President’s Pace for 4-year-olds and up Ohio bred pacers came down to a stretch battle between Bllack Hole and Sectionline Bigry with Sectionline Bigry prevailing by a neck.

As the field of nine were sent on their way, Tyler Smith sent the eventual winner to the early lead, parking Bllack Hole (Ronnie Wrenn, Jr.) past the opening quarter in :26.1.
Bllack Hole cleared to the lead and Major Nemesis (Aaron Merriman) was the first to challenge the leader as they stopped the half-mile timer in :53.3. Major Nemesis stuck his nose in front at the three-quarters in 1:21.3.

Bllack Hole battled back in the final turn, retaking the lead and giving Sectionline Bigry enough space and time to score the 1:49.2 victory. Dancin Dragon (Scott Zeron) rallied for the third place check.

“Hats off to (Bllack Hole). The post-position was in our favor this week, being inside of that horse,” said Smith. “I got to sit right on his back. Right down to the last step, I got him. My horse has been good all year. I have just put him in some bad spots.”

Sectionline Bigry is owned by Harold Lee Bauder of Delaware, OH and is trained by Steve Bauder. The 5-year-old gelded son of Pet Rock finished second to Dancin Yankee in last year’s Charna Pace.

In fact, Sectionline Yankee becomes just the second horse to win the Charna Pace as Dancin Yankee took the first four editions of this invitational pace.

Action Uncle wins sixth straight

The double world champion Action Uncle pushed his 2020 undefeated streak to six straight with a 3 ¼ length score in the second of two $50,000 divisions of the Ohio Sire Stake three-year-old colt trot.

Using a patient drive by Brett Miller, Action Uncle cruised past Yanks Dugout (Kurt Sugg) in the final quarter to score in 1:55.

Trained by Virgil Morgan, Jr., the son of Uncle Peter is owned by Carl Howard, Joyce McClelland and Larry Wills.

It`s Academic(Chris Page) took the first division by 3 ¼ lengths over Doubleyellowline (Dan Noble) in 1:55.1.

The Uncle Peter colt is owned by Burke Racing Stable, W Donovan, Joe Sbrocco and the Hatfield Stables.

A pair of $50,000 Ohio Sire Stakes divisions of the sophomore filly pace were also contested and the driver combo of Chris Page and Ron Burke swept both divisions with a pair of Pet Rock fillies – a pocket sitting Crowntimerockette in 1:51.3 and an 18-1 upsetter Rockngo B B in 1:53.

Crowntiimerockette is owned by Allan Schmucker, Jr. and Rockngo B B is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Frank Baldachino, Weaver Bruscemi and Lawrence Karr.