MGM Northfield Park hosted an action-packed night of Ohio Sires Stakes racing on Wednesday, July 26 with two $55,000 divisions for freshman filly trotters along with three $40,000 divisions each for two-year-old filly pacers and colt trotters.
Sugar Instead and Ronnie Gillespie made it three straight in the Sires Stakes. The daughter of Volstead made it look easy, taking the lead heading the quarter pole and cruising to a 5-3/4-length win in 1:56.4. Trained by Virgil Morgan Jr. and owned by Joyce McClelland and Larry Wills, Sugar Instead has earned $112,500 in her freshman campaign winning three of four races. Legacy Affair finished second with Roxanna third.
In the other division for filly trotters, One Fancy Lady and Don Irvine Jr. rolled up the backstretch from fourth, reeling in the leader, Purplepeopleater, at the top of the stretch and holding on to win by a neck in 1:58. It was the first win in four starts for the Long Tom filly. One Fancy Lady is trained by Rosy Weaver, who co-owns with Heartland Acres and Kabby D LLC. Purplepeopleater was second with Maxine Hill third.
The two-year-old filly pacing division was dominated by Downbytheseaside fillies as Heartofthesea, Seaside Diva and Flyin Bullets were all repeat Sires Stakes winners.
In the first division, heavy favourite Heartofthesea and Ronnie Wrenn Jr. raced to the lead at the quarter pole and stayed there, winning by nearly two lengths in 1:55. It was the second win in three starts for the Brian Brown trainee, who is owned by Country Club Acres, Wingfield Brothers and David Van Dusen. Johns Shadow finished second with Seriously Fearless third
The second division of this set was a battle for Seaside Diva and Chris Page. After leading through the first half of the race, Seaside Diva gave up the top spot to Fearless Ginger and Chris Lems heading into the final turn. Around the final turn, Seaside Diva fought back, retaking the lead and holding off a late charge by Fearless Ginger to win by a half-length in a new lifetime mark of 1:52.3 Seaside Diva has hit the board in four of five starts, winning two. Trained by Ron Burke, she is owned by the Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Knox Services and Let It Ride Stable. Fearless Ginger held on for second with Rose Run Zoey finishing third.
The final division for the freshman filly pacers went to Flyin Bullets and Brett Miller. Flyin Bullets was sixth at the half-mile mark, went three-wide up the backstretch and finally took the lead mid-stretch to win in 1:53.4, a new lifetime mark. It was the second win in three starts for Flyin Bullets, who is trained by Clair Umholtz for Umholtz & Kennedy Racing. Beautiful Lather finished 1-1/2 lengths behind in second with Venice Blue Chip third.
In the first of three divisions for the two-year-old colt trotters, Royal Precedent and Aaron Merriman raced to the lead off the gate and fought off a late challenge from Deville Hill and Dan Noble to win by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:58.1. It was the second straight Sires Stakes victory for the son of Creatine who has won three of four starts for trainer Sam Schillaci and owner Claude Gendreau Stable. Deville Hill held on for second with Irresistible Son finishing third.
In the second trotting colt division, Gypsy Hill made his move from the Buckeye Stallion Series to the Sires Stakes a successful one as he rallied down the stretch to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:58.2. The What The Hill colt, with Anthony MacDonald in the bike, trailed the leaders, Epass and Aaron Merriman, by nearly seven lengths as the three-quarter pole, but rallied around the final turn and down the stretch for his third (consecutive) win in four starts. The Jason McGinnis trainee is owned by Thestable Gypsy Hill Group and Hutchison Harness. Epass finished second with Hung Over third.
The final division for the freshman colt trotters went to Tennessee Tom and Chris Page in 2:00.1. Page took the Long Tom colt to the lead off the gate and fought off a challenge around the final turn from Commander Tom and Austin Hanners. The Burke trainee has won twice -- both Sires Stakes events -- in four starts for the Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Hatfield Stables and Knox Services. Rose Run Zoom finished 1-1/2 lengths behind the winner, nipping Commander Tom at the wire for the runner-up honours.
(With files from Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association)