by Keith Gisser, assistant publicity director, Northfield Park

Two-year-old fillies took over Northfield Park Friday night with the Cleveland track playing host to the second leg of the Ohio Sire Stakes, with eight $20,000 divisions contested; four for trotter and four for pacers.

The night opened up with a 7 1/2-length, gate-to-wire romp by filly trotter Whotookwhat in 2:03.3. The win was Whotookwhat second straight in Sire Stakes competition, besting her previous mark set at Northfield June 28 by four-fifths of a second. Jim Dailey trains and drives for owners William and Barbara Paull of Powell, Ohio. The daughter of Inquirer defeated Moon Basket and Crossdressinkevin.

The second split for 2-year-old filly trotters went to Ask Me Ne Thing, another daughter of Inquirer who won in 2:04.1 for trainer Jack Smith and driver Greg Grismore. She closed from well back early to defeat Rose Run Gold Rush and Mrs Sizzle. Charles Zubritsky of Monessen, PA, owns the winner who was making her Stakes debut.

Scarlet Lavec took the third trotting split in what appeared to be a match race around the final turn with CSI Mrs Lavec. Lookslikearose prevented a Mr Lavec-sired trifecta. Scarlet Lavec is owned by Bob Kauffam and and trainer Collins and has now banked $20,000 in two starts.

The last $20,000 split went to DC’s Main Tease, a daughter of Overcomer who won in 2:04.1 for owner-trainer Richard Kirby and driver Miller. The Overcomer daughter beat Mona Lisa Master and Honey Leone.

On the pacing side, speed-badge honors on the night went to the Northmedo Tam, a daughter of Stand Forever who won in 1:58.1. Mike Medors trains for owner Northmedo Stable, the nom de course of Medors, Bob Sidley and Don ‘Skip’ Hoovler. Driven by Aaron Merriman, Northmedo Tam won for the second straight time, dropping her career mark by two-fifths of a second. She was out from the three-eighths pole, but still won impressively over My Awesome Babe and QE II. The winner is a daughter of Stand Forever.

Ragdoll Zest, a daughter of unheralded stallion Zest For Life, was a 1:58.2 winner in her OSS split. Driven by Jim Dailey for trainer Nelson Baker, she won for the first time in two attempts with a grinding first-over effort.

Game Serena, a daughter of Perfect Art, kicked off the sidewheeling action with a 1:59 in the first $20,000 OSS split. Brian Brown trains the winner and called on the sport’s top UDRS driver, Greg Grismore, to pilot. Owned by Steven Stanek of Crestline, Ohio, she turned back Sugar Me Sweet and first leg winner Coco Tia.

The final OSS split went to Annabelle Lou, a daughter of Firm Belief who won in 1:59.2 in her first start for trainer Jeff Cox. Grismore also drove this winner for retired potato chip magnate Jack Shearer. She easily went by Jebria and Noble Ashley in the stretch to get the win.

In the $7,500 Mares Open Pace, True Blue Lu came flying at the end of the mile for driver Keith Kash, Jr. Sent off at odds of 8-1 in a very balanced field, the Kent Sherman-trainee went three-wide up the backside and toughed out a game win over Shutupandkissme who took control just after the 27.2 quarter. Southern Miss was third in the 1:54.4 mile. True Blue Lu, a five-year-old Expensive Scooter mare, won for the fourth time this season and pushed her career earnings over the $150K mark for owners Craig Blatchford and Ashley Sutton.