For Once Inmy Life made it two-for-two in Ohio Sires Stakes action as he rolled to victory at MGM Northfield Park on Saturday night (June 3). In the other $55,000 division for three-year-old colt pacers, Seafire made his first Sires Stakes start of the year one to remember as he picked up the win.
For Once Inmy Life with Matt Kakaley grabbed the lead just after the first quarter and hung on down the stretch to win by a head in 1:50.3. The son of Downbytheseaside is trained by Noel Daley and owned by Country Club Acres, Joe Sbrocco, John Fodera and Steve Wienick Racing.
For Once Inmy Life grabbed the lead from Dunkin (Nick Clegg) after a first quarter of :26.3. The two battled on the front end through fractions of :55 and 1:22.2. Down the stretch, For Once Inmy Life held off a late surge by Dunkin to get the win. Burnout (Billy Davis Jr.) was third.
For Once Inmy Life has hit the board in all five starts this year, winning three. He has now earned $78,550 this year.
In the second division, Seafire rallied from the back of the pack and drew away down the stretch to win by two lengths in 1:50.2. The Downbytheseaside colt is trained by Brian Brown and owned by Country Club Acres, Joelyn Ridder, Mark Kantrowitz and Scott Davis.
Seafire with Ronnie Wrenn Jr. was sixth through the first half-mile and went three-wide down the backstretch to close in on the leaders. Around the final turn, Seafire turned on the jets and blew past Racing Rampage (Aaron Merriman) to win for the fourth time in seven starts this year. Unraced at two, Seafire has earned $62,300.
Racing Rampage finished second with Low Rider (Hunter Myers) third.
The second leg of the Ohio Sires Stakes concludes Saturday, June 10 when three-year-old colt trotters take the track at Northfield Park.
With some of the heavy hitters having the week off, it allowed for others to take their shot at glory in Saturday's $20,000 Filly and Mare Distaff Pace.
When the word 'go' was given, there was a rush to the first turn with Ideal Destiny (Chris Page), Creme Delight (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) and Rock Me Cristal (Ryan Stahl) all tussling for the lead. Through the first turn, Ideal Destiny was able to clear foes, arriving at the quarter in :27.1.
Page didn't get much of a breather in the second quarter, arriving in :55.2, with Dojea Rita (Chris Lems) and Tiny Bit Of Sky (James Day) beginning to apply pressure on the outside.
Heading to three-quarters in 1:22.4, Day flipped Tiny Bit Of Sky three-wide and got within a half-length of the lead, but Creme Delight proved she was one better finding her way off the pylons around the final turn and storming home to a decisive 1:51.2 victory. A Delightful Act N (Hunter Myers) rallied strongly to be second, two lengths behind the winner, with Tiny Bit Of Sky fading to be third.
Owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Frank Canzone and Larry Karr, the four-year-old daughter by Bettors Delight took her career earnings to $119,049.
Live racing resumes on Sunday evening at 6 p.m.
(With files from Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association and Northfield Park)