Northfield, OH – The $65,000 divisional winners of the Ohio Sires Stakes for 3-year-old filly trotters won in different fashion on Saturday (June 7) at MGM Northfield Park with Jailhouse Pearl rallying from off -the-pace and Aunt Laura scoring in gate-to-wire fashion.
In the first division, there was a wild three-wide scramble into the first turn while Mega Money (Aaron Merriman), Wild As You (Tyler Smith), and R Maggie (Chris Lems) battled for position.
The race, however, was turned on its head early as heavy-favorite Mega Money, who had left alertly from post two, made a break, allowing Wild As You to inherit the lead.
R Maggie drove on past Wild As You through a :28.2 first quarter.
Lems was able to rate R Maggie in the second quarter to just :30, but then the outer flow began to come together as Jailhouse Pearl (Dan Noble) made a first-over bid for the lead.
R Maggie was able to continue to hold off rivals, but at the three quarter pole (1:26.3), Jailhouse Pearl began to bear down on the leader entering the far turn.
As Jailhouse Pearl continued to get closer to the leader, Lems asked R Maggie for more, but through the stretch Jailhouse Pearl proved to be too good, scoring an upset in 1:54.4.
R Maggie was a game second, with Wild As You taking advantage of the miscue by Chrome Trim in the stretch to be third.
Bred by owner Casey Clemens of Malta, OH, the 3-year-old filly by Long Tom pushed her career earnings to $104,627.
In the second division, 2024 Ohio Sires Stakes freshman champion, Aunt Laura, made short work of her foes winning in front end fashion.
Dream Something (Tyler Smith) tried to defend the pylon position when she left aggressively from the rail heading into the first turn. Aunt Laura (Brett Miller) drove up outside of Dream Something and was able to power past entering the backstretch.
At the quarter in :27.3, Aunt Laura opened a 2-1/2 length lead on her rivals.
Aunt Laura still with had a 1-1/2 length lead at the half in :56.1 and continued to cruise on the front end, but entering the clubhouse turn for the final time the field began to catch up to her.
Midway up the backstretch, Tyler Smith gave the green light to Dream Something who confronted Aunt Laura and the pair squared off past the three-quarters in 1:25.3.
Dueling into the final turn, Aunt Laura stood her ground, digging in to fight off Dream Something winning by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:54. Rose Run Allison (Chris Page) was second and Dream Something was third.
“This filly got really good at the end of her 2-year-old season, it took us a few times to get her qualified this year, but once we got her straightened out, she’s been winning ever since,” said winning driver, Brett Miller. “Once a horse gets next to her, she knows its time for business.”
The homebred 3-year-old filly by Uncle Peter, owned by Joyce A McClelland Stb LLC now has career earnings of $301,250.