by Jim Whittemore, publicity director, Ocean Downs

Berlin, MD — Twin B Scamper was voted the Horse of the Meet at Ocean Downs last year when the 7-year-old won eight races during the 40-day summer meet. However, prior to Sunday night, July 6, The Run The Table-Scamper Almahurst mare had not won since her 12-win 2007 campaign.

“She got a little sore this (past) fall. She had foot problems, had a quarter crack,” explained owner/driver Frank Milby, the leading driver at Ocean Downs in 2007 with 67 wins.

Twin B Scamper was the 7-5 favorite on Sunday at Ocean Downs and produced with a fourth race win, taking the lead at the three-quarter pole en route to her first win this year in nine starts (1:57.1, $4.80).

“She came back now. I’m kind of racing her tight because she’s a little bit overweight. You’ll see each week, she’ll get a little better, Milby said.”

Milby, who earned his 1,000th career driving win this past June 4 in a sudden rainstorm at Harrington Raceway, also won another on Sunday as he had the lines for the Mike Hall-trained and owned Canvas Master. The Artsplace 5-year-old gelding won his sixth in his last seven outings and seventh this year for Hall in what was then the fastest pace of the meet (1:54.4, $4.00).

Hall was pleased with Milby’s handling of his talented Canvas Master, having his reigns seven straight times.

“Frank gets along with him real good, better than anybody else,” Hall said.

Hall, the leading Ocean Downs trainer in 2006, posted a training double Sunday night, also winning with 10-year-old Mr Love Joy, owned by Christopher Devine and driven by the meet’s current leading driver, Eric Ledford. The Life Sign gelding used a burst of speed at the finish line to log his seasonal best time of 1:57.2 ($3.80) and win his 11th race in 21 starts this year.

Ledford’s win with Mr Love Joy completed a driving double for the evening, making him the current leading driver with 16 wins.

Ray Robinson, Jr. drove 7-year-old gelding Bold Xample to a final race win, Robinson’s 12th win of the summer.

Black Cat Bone, an 11-year-old gelding owned and trained by Erika Paradee, bettered the fastest pace of the meet, set only four races earlier Sunday. The 6-5 favorite, driven by Charles Perry, Jr., earned his 64th career victory with his second win this year (1:54.1, $4.60).

“I tell you what, that’s the best 11-year-old horse I’ve ever driven, classy horse, just knows how to win a race,” Perry said as he enjoyed driving the veteran horse, now with over $824,000 in career earnings.

Mark Gray notched a driving double Sunday night (nine wins for the meet), leading 3-year-old filly G’s Ollie to her third win this summer at the ocean (1:58.4, $3.60). Gray also was in the bike as 4-year-old Hard Head, trained by Gray and owned by Scott Collier, pulled away to win by four lengths (1:58, $5.60).

Live racing in this 60th Anniversary season continues a Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday format through closing night on August 24. Parking and admission are free at the Ocean Oval. First post is 7:35 p.m. nightly. For further information, call Ocean Downs at (410) 641-0600.