Trainer/co-owner has three morning line favorites in the $2.4 million Ohio Sires Stakes finals.

by Jay Wolf

Chris Beaver has had big nights racing in the state of Ohio and tonight (Sept. 5), the conditioner/co-owner has the morning line favorite in three events during the $2.4 million Ohio Super Night at MGM Northfield Park.

The Radnor, OH- based trainer has 11 entries in the four Ohio Sire Stakes (OHSS) trot finals, headlined by a four-horse entry in the 3-year-old colt event – Panzano (9-1; Post #2), Perron (7-1; Post #4), Winning Ticket (8-5; Post #6) and Spyder The Striker (10-1; Post 8).

Winning Ticket is undefeated, a perfect nine-for-nine, and has earned $189,500 this season. The Triumphant Caviar–Lotto Winner colt has 13 wins in 17 career starts.

Beaver co-owns the former $4,000 yearling purchase with Steven Zeehandelar, Tim Homan and Jim Burnett.

Despite the marginal post draw, Beaver remains confident in Winning Ticket and driver Aaron Merriman.

“Post #6 is fine. I just hope everything goes clean and nothing stupid happens. He should be good,” Beaver said.

In the $300,000 freshman colt trot, Beaver will send out the top three morning line choices – Caviar Gold (5-2; Post 1), Gabby’s Bit Coin (3-1; Post 7) and The Mighty Hill (4-1; Post #4).

Caviar Gold (Aaron Merriman) and Gabby’s Bit Coin (Ronnie Wrenn, Jr.) each won the first two OHSS legs before the trainer gave them the third leg off.

“They were coming off a couple of hard miles (Ohio State Fair and OHSS second leg). They would have had to race another hard mile and I didn’t think would be good for them at all,” said Beaver.

“Everything is about the final. It goes for so much more than the legs. My goal is to have them as good as we can for the final.”

Both colts returned for the fourth and final OHSS leg on Aug. 21 at Eldorado Scioto Downs, where they both suffered their first defeats of the season with a second-place finish.

They now sport identical records of 3-1-0 in four starts and $74,000 in earnings.

Caviar Gold is owned by Beaver, Zeehandelar, Bill Manges and Leo Fleming. Gabby’s Bit Coin is co-owned by Beaver and his mother, Johanna, who bred the Uncle Peter–Gabbysloosechange gelding.

The third Beaver entry is The Mighty Hill (Brett Miller), who started the season in the second level Buckeye Stallion Series, but after the What The Hill gelding established a new MGM Northfield Park track record 1:56.3 in his first seasonal start, found himself in OHSS action.

The Mighty Hill has secured four wins and $63,485 for co-owners Beaver, Donald Robinson and the VIP Internet Stable.

Beaver will send the top three seasonal points earners – Gabbys C Note (2-1; Post 1), Caviar Roxie Due (7-2; Post 5) and Stephanie Hill (25-1; Post 8) – in the 2-year-old filly trot.

Gabbys C Note (Aaron Merriman) is four-for-five on the season, with three OHSS leg wins. The Triumphant Caviar lass is co-owned by Beaver, Zeehandelar and breeder Johanna Beaver.

Caviar Roxie Due (Brett Miller) won the first three OHSS legs, allowing Beaver the luxury to give the filly the final leg off.

“It was kind of the same strategy. She was securely in the final, so I elected to skip that final leg,” said Beaver.

“Roxie is kind of a sore filly. I had to keep her together a little bit this year. I didn’t want to get her hurt in the last leg, right before the rich final.”

Caviar Roxie Due, whose only loss was in the Ohio State Fair Stakes on Aug. 5, was a $14,000 yearling purchase by Beaver, Zeehandelar, Homan and the VIP Internet Stable.

Ozma (6-1; Post #2) is Beaver’s only entry in the sophomore filly event.

The Triumphant Caviar–Evanora lass is co-owned by Beaver and breeder Sandra Burnett. She has been bouncing between racing in OHSS action and at the county fairs.

“It’s been a tough division,” said Beaver.  “There are three or four that are hard to beat in there.”

“Where she drew, she could pick up a good piece of it. Somebody is going to do out of there and get the trip they need, but she could pick up the pieces and get a decent check in there. She’s kind of a (1):54 trotter on her best day, so she doesn’t rank with the best ones in there.”

Ozma has been on the board in 11 of 17 seasonal starts and earned $72,338.

“She has managed to make money in just about every start this year. She’s had a good season.”

Winning Ticket is not the only undefeated Ohio bred in Ohio Super Night action, the 2-year-old colt pacer Gulf Shores (Ronnie Wrenn, Jr.) looks for his fifth career win in the freshman colt pace.

The Downbytheseaside colt is trained by Brian Brown and has earned $101,500 for the Country Club Acres, Diamond Creek Racing and the Wingfield Brothers.

Charlie May (Brett Miller) and Heart Of Chewbacca (Chris Page) will renew their rivalry in the 3-year-old colt pace.

“Charlie’ has gotten the best of ‘Chewy’ in their last three head-to-head matches and scored a big win on Wednesday when the post positions were drawn. Charlie May will leave from post 2 and Heart Of Chewbacca will be in the outside post #8.

Charlie May won the $300,000 Carl Milstein Memorial on August 14 in 1:48.4 over this same MGM Northfield Park oval.

The 16-race Ohio Super Night card with get underway at 6 p.m.

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