The first leg of Ohio Sires Stakes for two-year-old colt and filly pacers opened on Saturday, July 8 at Eldorado Scioto Downs. Fresh off her victory in the Next Generation, Magestic Seas made it look easy, scoring her second win in as many starts.
In the first of nine $40,000 divisions, Ronnie Wrenn Jr. took Magestic Seas (pictured above) to lead heading to the half and opened up a five-length lead around the final turn to win easily in 1:51.1. Brian Brown trains the daughter of Downbytheseaside for Country Club Acres, Kirk Nichols and Scott Dillon In her two wins this year, Magestic Seas has earned $95,000. Rose Run Zoey was second with Fearless Ginger third
In the second division for the fillies, Brett Miller collected the first of his two Sires Stakes wins on the night as he guided Daisy Star to victory in 1:53.1. The daughter of Racing Hill was fourth entering the final turn, shot down the passing lane and pulled away to win by a length in 1:53.1. It was the first win in two starts for Daisy Star, who is trained by Johnson Hill Jr. and owned by Brent Tartar. Venice Blue Chip was second with Bad Girls Racing finishing third.
Irreplaceable with Jeremy Smith took the pocket trip and shot down the lightning lane to win the third division of filly pacers by a head for trainer Todd Luther in 1:55. It was Irreplaceable’s first win in two career starts. The daughter of Racing Hill is owned by Greg Luther Racing. Cruiser Cancelled finished second with Heartofthesea third.
The final division for filly pacers went to Dancing On Glass. Cameron McGown gave Brian Brown his second Sires Stakes training win of the night with the Downbytheseaside filly. Dancing On Glass sat in the pocket until the top of the stretch, moving to the outside and catching the favourite, Seaside Streaker, to win by a length in 1:54.1. Dancing On Glass was making her first career start for owners Hutchison Harness. Rock Ur Wings was third.
On the colt side of the ledger, Rose Run Zane and Austin Hanners won the first division for colt pacers in 1:53 for trainer Dan Venier. The son of Racing Hill, making his first career start, fired off the final turn and pulled away down the stretch to win by two lengths for owners John and Leann Saunders. High On The Hill was second with Denial third.
Ron Burke trainee Outer Banks with Chris Page took the lead at the top of the stretch and held off a late charge from Seasideescape to win the second division of freshman colt pacers by a head in 1:52.4. It was the first win in two starts for the son of Downbytheseaside. Burke Racing Stable, RAS Racing, J&T Silva – Purnel & Libby and Weaver Bruscemi own Outer Banks. Topofthehill AS finished third.
In the third division, Hundred Dollar Man with Montrell Teague raced off the gate from the far outside, grabbing the lead heading to the quarter pole. The son of Lather Up held the lead until Noble Dale and Brett Miller took over entering the final turn. Down the stretch, Hundred Dollar Man battled back, retook the lead and held on to win by a head in 1:53.3. It was the first win in two starts for owner/trainer Brenda Teague. Janelle Granny rallied for second with Noble Dale finishing third.
Longshot Racing Rebel and Sam Widger took the pocket trip and fired down the passing lane beating Pariss Dragon to the line to win the fourth division in 1:52.4. The son of Racing Hill went off at 18-1 for trainer Dan O’Mara. It was the first win in three starts for Racing Rebel, who is owned by Marjorie Polhamus. Clever Cody was third.
In the final division of the night, Brett Miller earned his second Sires Stakes win of the evening as he drove Fear The Image to victory. The Fear The Dragon gelding grabbed the lead at the three-quarter pole and won by two lengths in 1:53. It was the second win in as many starts for Fear The Image, who has earned $26,500 this year for trainer Randy Smith and owner Jessica Smith. Midwind Beach Boy finished second with Believe It Sea It third.
Sires Stakes action for Ohio two-year-olds continues on Sunday night, July 8 at MGM Northfield Park as six divisions of freshman colt and filly trotters take to the track.
Since returning from Scioto Downs two starts ago, Waitforever N has been chomping at the bit to return to the winner's circle and she was able to do it on Saturday with a gate-to-wire victory in the $20,000 Filly and Mare Open Pace.
Leaving alertly from post four and only a single challenger inside of her, Waitforever N and driver Aaron Merriman wasted no time leaving down the center of the racetrack. She duelled with Lydeo into the first turn but made the lead after a stiff quarter in :26.3. Merriman got a big breather in the second quarter, with a soft half of :56.1, but a host of pursuers came, including Tiny Bit Of Sky, who led the assault in the outer flow. Into the backstretch, Tiny Bit Of Sky got within three-quarters of a length of the leader, but Merriman repelled that challenge. Turning into the stretch, Merriman asked Waitforever N for a little more and she responded, winning by three-quarters of a length in 1:52.2. Lydeo tried to close but managed only to be second with Rock Me Cristal rallying to be third.
The win was the 19th lifetime for the American Ideal mare, who now has $190,880 in the bank for owners D Racing Stable, Donald MacRae and Kapildeo Singh, and trainer Braiden Rhoades.
(With files from Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association and Scioto Downs)