Rose Run Yanae won for the third time in this year's Ohio Sires Stakes action as she captured the first of two $55,000 divisions for three-year-old trotting fillies on Sunday, July 16 at MGM Northfield Park. In the second division, Swinging Senorita came home first.
Rose Run Yanae (pictured above) with Chris Page raced off the gate from the inside and made it look easy on the way to a three-length victory in a new lifetime mark of 1:54. The 1-9 favourite was never challenged as she won for the fourth time in seven sophomore starts. Ron Burke trains the daughter of Triumphant Caviar for Burke Racing Stable, Hatfield Stables, Knox Services and Weaver Buscemi. Rose Run Yanae now has career earnings of $225,663 with the win. Global Girl was second with Crystas Legacy third.
In the second division, Swinging Senorita led gate-to-wire to pick up her first Sires Stakes win of the year. Anthony MacDonald took the 4-5 favourite to the lead from the far outside and fought off a late challenge from Cornstar to win by a neck in 1:54.1, a new lifetime mark. Chulada finished third. The daughter of What The Hill has hit the board in seven of eight starts this year, winning three. Trained by Jason McGinnis, Swinging Senorita raised her lifetime earnings to $285,514 for Thestable Senorita Group and Hutchison Harness.
The second leg of the Buckeye Stallion Series for two-year-olds kicked off on Sunday's card with six divisions for freshman filly pacers. Illegal was the only first-leg winner to win as she captured the final division.
The sixth division featured three first-leg winners: Illegal, Unbridled Fury and Bettorthanamillion. Illegal and Kayne Kauffman raced to the top and led gate-to-wire to win by a length in a new lifetime mark of 1:54.1. It was the second win in as many starts for the daughter of Western Vintage. Mike Polhamus trains and co-owns Illegal with Kevin McQuinn. Talkintothemoon was second with Unbridled Fury was third.
In the first division, Frontier Dragon and Austin Hanners took the pocket trip and battled Strictly Perfect down the stretch to win by a length in 1:54.2. It was the first win in four starts for the daughter of Fear The Dragon. Steve Carter trains Frontier Dragon for owners Jacob Mossbarger and Brent Hopper. Beams Of The Sun was third.
Im Fancy Like, with Anthony MacDonald, fought off a backstretch challenge from Legend N Cress and a late surge from Giovona By The Sea to win by a neck in 1:55. Jason McGinnis trains the daughter of Dancin Yankee for Thestable I'm Fancy Like. It was Im Fancy Like’s first win in three starts. Giovona By The Sea was second with Legend N Cress finishing third.
Genetic Edge, with Ronnie Wrenn Jr., rallied from the back of the pack to win for the first time. Making her second career start, the daughter of Downbytheseaside was last in the eight-horse field at the half. Wrenn took Genetic Edge five-wide around the final turn and shot down the lane to win by a length in 1:56.1. The Tyler Rush trainee is owned by Darby Creek Standardbreds. Chat With Chewie finished second while The Future Is Here was third.
Fear Of Moonlight and Chris Page started from the second tier but grabbed the lead going to the first quarter on the way to an easy five-length win in 1:54.4. It was the first win in two starts for the Fear The Dragon filly, who is trained by Tim Lane and owned by Emerald Highlands Farm. Jumpstyle Hanover was second with State Of Fear Third.
Naked On A Hill and Brett Miller took the pocket trip before grabbing the lead around the final turn and drawing clear to win by three lengths in 1:53.3, the best time in the six Stallion Series races. The daughter of What The Hill won for the first time in three starts. Naked On A Hill is owned by Dennis Shaner and trained by Mark Winters. Itsonlyupfromhere finished second with Lady Bridgerton
Speedy Dominic A had been knocking on the door against Open company over the past couple of weeks, and on Sunday, he upset rivals closing from off the pace to win the $20,000 top pace with Aaron Merriman in the bike.
The Longest Yard, Camouflage Money and Bettor Than Spring all left alertly off the wings into the first turn. While Camouflage Money cleared rivals, the lead was short-lived as Bettor Than Spring took control before the :26.2 quarter mark. Bettor Then Spring then worked a :29 breather in the second quarter as he began to feel pressure from The Longest Yard, who started a first-over bid. The pair matched strides into the backstretch with Markham Eyre N second-over, looking the leaders over from fourth.
At three-quarters in 1:22.3, The Longest Yard opened a two-length lead, but he wavered late as Speedy Dominic A made a three-wide bid for the lead, working his way past foes to win by a half-length in 1:51.1. Markham Eyre N finished second while Sawyers Desire rallied to be third.
Owned by Kapildeo Singh, Earl Hill Jr. and VIP Internet Stable, the Braiden Rhoades trainee has now pushed his career earnings to $301,357. Speedy Dominic A has now earned 27 victories in 140 starts.
Live harness racing resumes at Northfield on Monday at 6 p.m., with more Buckeye Stallion Series action as the three-year-old filly pacers take to the track. The Ohio Sires Stakes continue on Tuesday, with first post at 3:15 p.m. at Eldorado Scioto Downs featuring two divisions of freshman colt trotters and two divisions of filly trotters.
(With files from Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association & Northfield Park)