The Real Way rallied down the stretch to win the $100,000 fourth leg of the Ohio Sires Stakes for three-year-old colt pacers at MGM Northfield Park on Saturday night (July 22).
Favourite Burnout and Billy Davis Jr. set a blistering pace off the gate, covering the first quarter in :25.2. The speed continued as Burnout led the field to the half-mile in :52.4 and three-quarters in 1:20.4.
Around the final turn, Burnout began to tire as Quick Trick and Chris Lems swung wide to take the lead. The Real Way and Chris Page also began their move towards the front going three-wide around the turn.
As they hit the top of the stretch, Quick Trick went to the front by a length, but The Real Way set his sights on the leader. The two battled down the stretch with The Real Way getting up at the wire to win by a head in a new lifetime mark of 1:49.2. Rockmelikeyameanit and Kurt Sugg finished third over Burnout more than three lengths behind.
The win was the second OHSS victory and the third (consecutive) score in nine starts this year for the son of Downbytheseaside. Trained by Ron Burke and owned by Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi, The Real Way raised his lifetime earnings to $199,988.
Saturday's card also featured a $20,000 Fillies & Mares Open Handicap Pace. Fairiesdelight A has done no wrong since shipping in to Northfield Park and she improved to a perfect three-for-three in Ohio with a come-from-behind victory.
Drawing inside, Fairiesdelight A, driven by Aaron Merriman, worked hard to defend pylon position around the first turn, but was met with pressure from leavers Lydeo, driven by Page, and stablemate Waitforever N, with Like Ebersole in the bike. Merriman decided to take back with his mare, allowing the duelling leaders to slug it out to a torrid quarter of :26, where Lydeo finally worked her way to the lead.
Sweet And Fiesty, with Ronnie Wrenn Jr. aboard, was the first one to take a crack at the leaders, but she made a break around the far turn for the first time and was relegated to the back of the pack. Eclipsing the half in :54.2, Lydeo had last week’s winner Adashious Hanover and Davis breathing down her neck into the clubhouse turn for the final time.
The pair continued to tussle, matching strides past three-quarters in 1:22.2, with neither really giving an inch. Turning for home, there were a host of pursuers looking to capitalize on the hot early pace, but Fairiesdelight A, who bided her time through much of the mile, rallied to win by a head in 1:51.3.
Owned by M T Stables Ontario Inc. and trained by Braiden Rhoades, Fairiesdelight A, a seven-year-old daughter of Bettors Delight, pushed her earnings to $93,084 with 17 victories in 92 starts.
Ohio Sires Stakes action continues on Wednesday, July 26 at Northfield Park with the second leg for two-year-old colt and filly trotters and filly pacers. Live racing resumes on Sunday, July 23 at 6 p.m. (EDT).
(With files from Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association & Northfield Park)