Berlin, MD — After grinding to the fore, Brutus Bayama outlasted a sustained push from Make Some Waves to win the $23,500 final of the Diane “Mum” Stevenson Memorial, for claiming pacers, on Thursday (Aug. 8) at Ocean Downs.
Brutus Bayama was rated in midfield by Johnathan Ahle behind a :27.2 first-quarter duel that saw Candys Image Rocks (Jonathan Roberts) and Hundie N (Eric Davis) dispute the lead.
Ahle moved Brutus Bayama off the pegs with five-eighths to go, and the 7-year-old Betterthancheddar gelding ground to the lead with just under three-eighths remaining. Shortly after he cleared a tiring Candys Image Rocks, he faced immediate pressure from Make Some Waves (Jason Thompson), and the two sparred past three-quarters in 1:26.2 and through the far turn.
Despite the tough journey, Brutus Bayama held firm in the stretch, repelling Make Some Waves by a half- length in 1:55.2. Bet On Buter (Tony Morgan) emerged out of traffic to save third as the 8-5 favorite.
Joe Hundertpfund Jr. trains Brutus Bayama, a 12-time winner who returned $7.00 as the 5-2 second choice, for Sartin Racing and Richard Ashley.
The series was named for Diane “Mum” Stevenson, who died in 2023 after enjoying a six-decade career in harness racing as a chart caller and program editor.
Ahle won four races on the 11-race card.
Live racing returns to Ocean Downs on Sunday (Aug. 11); first post is 7:05 p.m.