Berlin, MD — The Maryland Standardbred Race Fund (MSRF) continued its summer series at Ocean Downs on Wednesday (August 6), featuring three divisions for three-year-old filly pacers and trotters. On a fast track even with light showers in the area, locally bred fillies delivered strong performances that highlighted the strength of Mid-Atlantic Standardbred breeding and racing programs.
In the first race of the evening, Act Classy, a three-year-old daughter of Captaintreacherous out of Act Like A Diva, delivered a dominant performance to capture the $29,875 MSRF division for pacing fillies. Driven by Corey Callahan for trainer Chris Ryder, Act Classy swept past early leader Bella Artiste with a resounding move going toward the three-quarter pole and cruised to win by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:56 with a sharp closing quarter of :28. Valentina Station (Eddie Dennis) completed the trifecta.
Act Classy is owned by Strideline Racing of New Jersey and was bred by Frederick Hertrich III of Delaware.
In race three, the trotting fillies took center stage, and it was Watch Me Goo This who made a bold statement capturing the lone trotting division for a purse of $51,400. After settling in third early, the daughter of International Moni–Gooreatness launched a powerful move up the backside, overtaking Moni Buys Happynes. Driven by Russell Foster and trained by Megan Foster, the filly maintained control around the final turn and showed grit in the lane, holding off a renewed bid from Moni Buys Happynes to win by a neck in 1:58.4
Owned by Russell Foster Racing LLC and bred in Maryland by Richard Hans, Watch Me Goo This continues to build an impressive campaign in the sophomore trotting ranks.
In the fifth race of the evening, Ragtime Red delivered a front-end score in the second pacing division for a purse of $29,875. With Allan Davis in the bike, the Getitoffyourchest–Red High Heels filly controlled the fractions and sprinted home in :28.3 to win by 3-1/2 lengths in 1:55.3 for trainer Donald Brittingham.
Ragtime Red was both bred and is owned by David Banks of Delaware.
Next week at Ocean Downs two-year-olds will be competing in the first preliminary leg of the Maryland Sire Stakes on both Monday (August 11) and Wednesday (August 13).