by Cheri Stambaugh

Berlin, MD — It was a night for upsets in the Maryland Sires Stakes 2-year-old trot finals on Sunday (Aug. 28) at Ocean Downs.

Holy Trout, the favorite in the $40,475 filly trot, the Ronald “Doc” Banning Memorial, was three deep in the first turn when she made a break, leaving the Les Givens trained entry in the lead. Jim Morand cut the 2:03.4 mile with Camita (Cam’s Rocket) while stablemate L G’s Hotshoegirl settled for the pocket trip, taking second, and Holy Trout recovered for third. Camita is owned and bred by Jim Morand and Nanticoke Racing Inc.

In race three, the W.W. “Pete” Saw Memorial for the colt and gelding trotters, the two favorites made breaks in the first turn, leaving the field wide open. Reinsman Russell Foster sent Redneck Cowboy (Four Starz Robro) to the front, holding off several challenges on the backside and last turn to pull away by three lengths over late closing Guac N Roll. Kasey Bendix and Virginia Marvel own and bred the winner and Jerry Nock trains. Time for the mile was 2:04. The purse was $40,250.

Miss Valerie (Allie’s Western) remained undefeated in the filly pacing division. Driver Roger Plante Jr. sent Miss Valerie out of the gate, finally taking the lead at the quarter pole from Evergreen Marla. They maintained a short lead all the way to the wire in 1:59.2. Maxkenna was up for third. Steve LeBlanc trains the winner for owners LeBlanc Racing Inc., Count De Money Stable and William Lutz Jr. The breeders are Tom and Linda Winebrener. This race was the $41,900 Hubert Jackson Memorial.

Race seven for pacing colts and geldings was the Charles Keller Memorial with a purse of $37,725. The rivalry between Adios Muchachos and Mr Ham Sandwich continued with lead changes twice in the mile. In the end Mr Ham Sandwich (Cam’s Rocket) with Russell Foster in the bike was victorious in the 1:55.4 stakes record mile. Judy Welty trains for owner/breeder Brian Emerson.

The 3-year-olds finish the Ocean Downs stakes on Thursday (Sept. 1). Maryland Sires Stakes continue at Rosecroft starting Sept. 20.