by Cheri Stambaugh

Ft. Washington, MD — What do Maryland Sire Stakes and hurricanes have in common? Googoo Gaagaa!

Once again, just before a hurricane, Googoo Gaagaa set a track and stakes record, breaking Rosecroft’s 3-year-old trotting colt record set in 1991 by Mr Chin and the Maryland Sire Stakes record set by Guybo in 2001.

Googoo Gaagaa looked like he was out for a stroll on Saturday (Oct. 27), setting fractions of :28.2, :57 and 1:25.3, with a mile in 1:54.1, just missing Vivid Photo’s all-age record of 1:54 at Rosecroft. Jim Morand was the reinsman for owner–trainer Richard Hans.

In other stakes action for the night, Perfect Tententen recovered from a break at the start to win the 2-year-old colt trot for owner-trainer-driver Elam Petersheim in 2:01.1.

Russell Williams’ 3-year-old trotting filly, Mrs Weasley, captured her third MDSS final of the season in 2:02.3 for trainer Framk Ingrassia and driver Jacqueline Ingrassia.

In the 3-year-old colt pace, Hotspeed took a new lifetime mark of 1:54.4 for pilot George Dennis and owner-trainer Thomas Leager.

Jim Morand took Firecracker Freddy to the front and held off the charge by stablemate Yippi Ki Yeah, winning the 2-year-old colt pace in 1:58 for owner-trainer Roger Hans.

Bonnie Ben Jamin remained undefeated in the 2-year-old pacing filly division for owner Brian Emerson and trainer Judy Welty. Bonnie Ben Jamin was barred from wagering. Jim Morand was in the sulky.

For the second week in a row, Jukebox Money came from off the pace to capture the 3-year-old filly pace for driver Frank Milby, owner Bay Pond Racing and trainer Eli Scott, Jr.

Driver Jim Morand ended Fall Showdown with three stakes wins.