Race Details
Date: August 14, 2025
Post Time: 12:50 PM ET
Distance: 6 furlongs
Surface: Dirt
Purse: $100,000 (Winner: $63,000)
The Honey Jay Stakes kicks off the Best of Ohio series with a deep field of nine seasoned Ohio-bred sprinters. With multiple stakes winners, sharp recent form, and pedigrees built for speed, this race promises a fast and furious start to the day.
Full Field Breakdown: Horses, Jockeys, Trainers & Pedigrees
| # | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Sire × Dam (Dam Sire) | Age | Odds (Forecast) |
| 1 | Ruffin | Yan Aviles | Brian Waltz | Competitive Edge × Ohio Gold (Touch Gold) | 4 | 6/1 |
| 2 | Stage Name | Angel Diaz | Timothy Hamm | Bodemeister × Apachee Cruise (Indian Charlie) | 5 | 8/1 |
| 3 | Boots Malone | Fernando Becerra | Robert Gorham | Gormley × Wakeeta (Stormy Atlantic) | 3 | 5/1 |
| 4 | Empire’s Fire | Jose Bracho | Jeffrey Radosevich | Empire Way × Victoria’s On Fire (Unusual Heat) | 6 | 4/1 |
| 5 | Diamond Dust | Rosario Montanez | Scooter Davis | Paynter × Radiant Sky (Sky Mesa) | 9 | 10/1 |
| 6 | Silent Rule | Brandon Tapara | Jay Bernardini | Street Boss × Modern Lady (Tale of the Cat) | 4 | 3/1 Fav |
| 7 | Scrimper | Luis Rivera | Richard Zielinski | Klimt × Pinchpenny (Flatter) | 4 | 12/1 |
| 8 | Excitement | Rocco Bowen | Timothy Hamm | National Flag × Elated (El Prado) | 5 | 6/1 |
| 9 | It’s Official | Erik Barbaran | Lorenzo Juarez | Flat Out × Officially (Officer) | 8 | 15/1 |
Top Contenders to Watch
Silent Rule – Street Boss × Modern Lady
Trainer: Jay Bernardini
Jockey: Brandon Tapara
Form: 6 straight wins; dominant speed figures
Pedigree Insight: Street Boss progeny excel in sprints; dam adds class and consistency
Empire’s Fire – Empire Way × Victoria’s On Fire
Trainer: Jeffrey Radosevich
Jockey: Jose Bracho
Form: 4 wins in last 5 starts; tactical speed
Pedigree Insight: Empire Way brings stamina; dam by Unusual Heat adds turf versatility
Boots Malone – Gormley × Wakeeta
Trainer: Robert Gorham
Jockey: Fernando Becerra
Form: Stakes winner at 2; sharp recent efforts
Pedigree Insight: Gormley offspring showing early maturity and dirt speed
Race Analysis
Pace Scenario: Expect a blistering early pace from Silent Rule, Stage Name, and Excitement. Empire’s Fire and Boots Malone may benefit from stalking trips.
Trainer Spotlight: Timothy Hamm sends out two contenders (Stage Name and Excitement), both with stakes experience and solid pedigrees.
Pedigree Play: Street Boss, Empire Way, and Gormley progeny are well-suited for 6-furlong dirt sprints.
Top Pick: Silent Rule – unbeatable form, elite sprint pedigree, and tactical speed
Value Play: Excitement – National Flag gelding with upside and closing kick
Longshot to Watch: Diamond Dust – veteran Paynter gelding with stakes experience
Exacta Box: Silent Rule / Empire’s Fire / Excitement
Trifecta Play: Silent Rule over Boots Malone and Ruffin
