The duo of Aaron Merriman and Chris Beaver won two of the three Buckeye Stallion Series divisions for two-year-old trotting fillies at MGM Northfield Park on Wednesday night (Sept. 7). The pair won with Bella Time and Gabbys Teddy Bear while Ronnie Gillespie won the third division with Mission Valley.
In the first of the $17,500 divisions, Merriman took the 6-5 favourite Bella Time to the lead and never looked back, winning by 2-3/4 lengths in 1:58.3. The daughter of What The Hill set fractions of :29.1, :59.1 and 1:27.4 before tripping the wire in a new lifetime mark. Aquatica finished second with Toms Royalty third.
The win was the third in seven starts for Bella Time, who has earned $32,755 for the ownership group of Beaver, Joe Sbrocco, W. J Donovan and Mogerdelia Racing.
Bella Time’s stablemate Gabbys Teddy Bear was not to be outdone in the second division. Using the same playbook, Merriman took Gabbys Teddy Bear to the lead and led all the way, winning in 1:58.1. The 3-1 choice set fractions of :29.3, 1:00 and 1:29 one her way to winning for the first time in six starts. Coupe Deville was second with Dont Tickle Me finishing third.
Owned by Johanna Beaver, Charles Beaver, Chris Beaver and Steve Zeehandelar, Gabbys Teddy Bear has earned $12,670.
In the final division, Merriman took the 9-5 favourite Cali Red to the lead with Gillespie and Mission Valley dropping into the pocket. Cali Red controlled the first three-quarters in :28.3, :59.1 and 1:28.3. As the field passed the three-quarter pole, Mission Valley turned on the gas and blew by the leader, drawing away to win by 10 lengths in a new lifetime mark of 1:57.3. C S Irene finished second while Lose My Mind AS was third. Cali Red faded to fourth.
Gillespie trains the Enterprise filly for Susan Sickle. The win was the sixth in 11 starts for Mission Valley and raised her earnings to $30,069.
Buckeye Stallion Series action resumes Friday afternoon at Eldorado Scioto Downs as two-year-old colt trotters will compete in the fourth leg. First race post time is 3:15 p.m.
(With files from Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association)