Northfield, OH – Game On Girls, given picture-perfect handling by Lauren Harmon, held off the furious late surge of Threefiftytwo, handled by Cameron Kina, to score by a neck in 1:57.4.
Pacesetting Donzel Hanover, with Eric Miller in the bike, finished third, less than a length away. Manhattanup No Ice, driven by Edward Miller, was fourth after a difficult journey while the fastest closing Esteso, driven by Don Sherman, picked up the nickel.
As the wings folded, no less than five horses were in an early fray around the opening turn with Game On Girls using the inside post to perfection to scoot through to take the early lead, only to relent to Donzel Hanover at the opening stanza in :28.3, with Manhattanup No Ice looking for a spot, and finding one ahead of the second tier starting Threefiftytwo.
Positions remained that way through a half in :58 with the pace accelerating on the backside past the third station in 1:27.
Once they straightened away for the drive home, Harmon ducked Game On Girls inside, finally, got by Donzel Hanover and then held off Threefiftytwo to score in the photo.
Trained by Peter Stratton for Thomas Bradford, Game On Girls, an 8-year-old daughter of Dontyouforgetit, Game On Girls won for the third time this semester in 17 starts to send her 2026 bounty to $18,518 and $239,980 lifetime.
For Harmon, this was her eighth win of the year and 58th triumph lifetime.
For trainer Stratton, whose career traces back 47 years, this was a milestone win – No. 1,500.
Off as the 5-2 second choice, Game On Girls returned $7.80 to her faithful.