by Keith Gisser

Sand Calady did all the work but Ashland Blue got all the glory at Northfield Friday night as she flew four-wide up the backstretch and dominated the $9,000 Mares Open Pace, posting a 1:53.3 win, the fastest distaff mile of the year thus far over the Flying Turns.

Sand Calady and leading driver Aaron Merriman were parked to the 27-second quarter by longshot Southwind Wesley, and thy rolled to a 55.4 half. Miller got Ashland Blue, a 5-year-old daughter of Blissfull Hall underway from way back as they headed up the backside the second time around, moving four-wide around the field and drawing off in the stretch.

Virgil Morgan, Jr., trains the winner for Wall Brothers Stable of Marion, Ohio. The win kept her undefeated in two seasonal starts and pushed her career earnings to $116,971.