Grove City, OH — The first leg of the Buckeye Stallion Series for 2-year-old colts and fillies was held at MGM Northfield Park Monday night (July 13). A total of 115 pacers competed in seven colt divisions and six filly divisions. Each division carried a purse of $17,500.

On the colt side of the ledger two youngsters remained undefeated.

Twig, the gelded son of Mr Apples, collected his second win in as many starts as he took a lifetime mark of 1:53.3, the fastest of the night. The freshman was three-wide at the quarter before taking the lead and winning by 3-1/2 lengths. Aaron Merriman drove for trainer Mike Polhamus and owner Julie Farley.

Polhamus picked up his second winner on the colt side when Brighter Days, driven by Kurt Sugg, went wire-to-wire in 1:55.2 by 3-3/4 lengths. The gelded son of Woodstock is also undefeated in two lifetime starts.

Imagine It, by If I Can Dream, made it three wins in four lifetime starts. Driver Peter Wrenn got away fourth before taking the lead going to the half and drawing away by 2-3/4 lengths in a lifetime best 1:54.3. Kurt Wilcox trains for owner Richard Copp.

Other colt winners included Illini Duke, by Well Said, in 1:56.3 for Chris Page and owner-trainer Brian Roebuck; He’s A Dickens, by Well Said, in 1:55.2 for Tyler Smith, Kris Hinchcliff and owner Elliot Misshula; KB Mac, by McArdle, in 1:55.3 for Ryan Stahl, Dan Venier and owners Ken and John Saunders; and Weekend Pass, by Big Bad John, in 1:55.2 for Dan and Christi Noble for owners Brent Hopper, Kyle Gray and Jerry Scheve.

The fillies were led by Apple Soozy with Andy Shetler for trainer Dan O’Mara and owner Marjorie Polhamus in 1:55.1. The Mr Apples filly is a perfect three for three after the two-hole trip before winning by three-quarters of a length.

Another winner for the driver, trainer and owner combination was Rainy Day Chic, by Rockin Amadeus, in 1:55.3, going wire-to-wire winning by three-quarters of a length. She is now two for three lifetime.

Smothastenesewisky is now two for two lifetime with the win in 1:54.3 with Chris Page. Brian Haynes owns and trains the Nob Hill High daughter, who got away fifth and took command before the half, drawing away by 6-1/4 lengths.

The fastest of the six divisions for the fillies was Heavenissofaraway who came home the winner in 1:54.1 with Chris Page for owner-trainer Anette Lorentzon. The daughter of Racing Hill went coast to coast, winning by 2-1/2 lengths.

Other winners were Margin Of Error, by Racing Hill, in 1:57.4 with Ronnie Wrenn Jr. for Chris Beaver and owners Donald Robinson, Chris Beaver, David Meola and R.B.H. Ventures and Free Thinker, by Western Vintage, in 1:54.4 with Chris Page for Ron Burke and owners Burke Racing Stable, Jason Melillo, J&T Silva-Purnel & Libby and Weaver Bruscemi.

The second leg of the 2-year-old pace for colts and fillies is scheduled for Thursday (July 23) at Eldorado Scioto Downs.