Berlin, MD — Kasey Bendix and Virginia Marvel’s homebred Fancy Like That delivered another devastating blow to her Maryland Sire Stakes competition on Wednesday (July 17) at Ocean Downs, beating Covid For Real by 11-1/4 lengths in 1:55.3 in a $10,000 second-round preliminary for 3-year-old pacing fillies.

Fancy Like That strode to her 15th career win in her Maryland Sire Stakes event. K. Moyer Photography.

The Rusty’s For Real-Scootin Woody filly coasted through a :58.2 first half on an uncontested lead in line to Johnathan Ahle before using back-to-back :28.3 second-lap splits to steadily edge clear from pocket rival Covid For Real. Yourgracefound Me finished third.

Bendix trains Fancy Like That, whose 15th career win pushed her earnings to $151,290. She paid $2.10 to win.

Only I Exist won the non-wagering $10,000 Maryland Sire Stakes for 3-year-old trotting fillies, defeating Emily’s Locket by 21-1/2 lengths in 2:00.1. Russell Foster drove the Richard Hans homebred Yall Beneath Me-Get Rich Quick filly, who now has earned $209,881, to her 11th career win.

A pair of second-round Tom Cooke Memorial divisions were conducted off the card as well, with Casino Magic (2:08.1, Roger Plante Jr.) and Chex Check (2:05, Trae Porter) winning their respective $8,500 splits of the event for 2-year-old trotters.

In the $12,000 Open 1 Handicap Trot, Coventry Hall ($4.80) sprinted clear from post four to control fractions of :28.1, :57.2 and 1:25.4 before steadily edging away from his seven rivals for a five-length, 1:55.2 score over Judge Bob and Along In Time. Porter drove the victorious 7-year-old Cash Hall gelding for trainer Michael Hall and owners William and Sarah MacMillan.

The $12,000 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap Pace saw Square Deal ($6.40) and driver Tony Morgan sustain a sixth-to-first brush to overtake early pacesetter Jody at the bell before evading her by two lengths to win in 1:52.3. Got The Gold finished third. Willard Reynolds trains the 4-year-old Heston Blue Chip mare for owner Mark Howard.

Ahle and Porter led all drivers with three wins apiece.

Live racing returns to Ocean Downs on Thursday, with a 12-race program featuring four divisions of the Diane “Mum” Stevenson Memorial claiming series. First post is 7:05 p.m.