The Ohio Sires Stakes campaigner races in the memory of Tom Prewitt.

by Jay Wolf

Mt. Sterling, KY native Gabe Prewitt is proud. Proud of his hometown, his family and his two-year-old gelded pacer Bus Ninethirtysix.

Bus Ninethirtysix was named for Prewitt’s uncle, Tom Prewitt, who passed away in 2002, less than 24 hours after he was re-elected as Montgomery County Commissioner. He was a former sheriff’s deputy, a Sunday school teacher and a school bus driver for the Montgomery County School District, driving bus #936 for more than 15 years.

“He would literally do anything for anyone, and served my hometown in so many ways,” said Prewitt. “He had a tremendously positive impact on my life.”

Prewitt’s chance to honor his uncle took a while to develop, but was worth the wait.

Prewitt purchased the mare, Lisas’ Frilly, for $4,200 at the 2002 Tattersalls Mixed sale, while she was in foal with Otherpeoplesmoney.

“I liked her because she was the second dam of the first horse I owned at that same time, Stardate Hall ($68,341; 1:53.1),” said Prewitt. “Lisas’ Frilly is now retired and on my dad’s farm.”

Otherpeoplesmoney, the daughter of Pro Bono Best, was the 2005 Kentucky Sire Stakes champion for two-year-old filly pacers and earned $205,647 for Prewitt and his partners.

Once Otherpeoplesmoney retired from racing, she was bred to Third Straight, but the resulting foal, Straitforthemoney, died.

Prewitt, the executive secretary of the Kentucky Harness Horsemen’s Association since 2010 and the track announcer for the famed Red Mile in Lexington, sent his mare to McArdle, producing Bus Ninethirtysix.

“We had him in the Ohio Select Sale with Hunterton Sales Agency, but he was very unlucky and drew hip #325 (out of 325),” said Prewitt. “I protected him up to $20,000 and ended up being the proud owner at $19,000.”

Prewitt sent his repurchase to the barn of Brian Brown.

After a pair of solid qualifying efforts, Brown sent Bus Ninethirtysix out for this first career start on July 5 at Scioto Downs, but finished a disappointing eighth after finding himself challenging for the lead at the three-quarter pole.

Bus Ninethirtysix rebounded with solid performances at the Bluffton and Oak Harbor fairs. He broke his maiden on July 29 with a 1:57.4 score in the Summit County Fair Stake at Northfield Park.

He established a new track mark for freshmen pacers at the Champaign County Fair in Urbana, OH when he crossed the line in 1:57.2.

Bus Ninethirtysix’s last start, the $12,500 Buckeye Stallion Series leg on Aug. 14 at Northfield Park, was by far his most impressive.

Saddled with the outside post 8, Bus Ninethirtysix found himself three-wide deep into the first turn and never saw the rail until he swooped past the leaders with yet another three-wide move at the three quarter pole. He sprinted home to score a three-length victory in a lifetime best 1:55.4.

As driver Chris Page brought Bus Ninethirtysix down the lane, Northfield’s assistant track announcer, Mike Carter, saluted the effort and his fellow announcer with the call of “Bus Ninethirtysix on the wings of an angel opens up.”

“I am still shocked at his progression,” said Prewitt. “He literally pulled himself up in his first lifetime start.”

He has a 3-2-1 record in just seven seasonal starts, earning $15,837.

Bus Ninethirtysix will make his next start in the fourth and final leg of the Ohio Sires Stakes Monday (Aug. 21) at Scioto Downs (post 1; 12-1 on the morning line).

“Probably a little tough for him,” said Prewitt. “I’m happy he at least made it to the races or we would’ve never gotten to tell anyone about his name.”