by Jim Whittemore, publicity director, Ocean Downs

Berlin, MD — Ocean Downs Racetrack opened its 60th summer season of live harness racing this past Saturday and Sunday, June 14 and 15. Frank Milby, the 2007 Ocean Oval leading driver, started quickly on opening night with three wins. Sunday night, Wayne Long drove four horses to a win and took the early lead in the driver’s title chase.

“This is by far my best start I’ve ever had down here,” said Long. “Usually I always have pretty good meets, but to come down and win four out of five…”

Long lost only one race when his horse broke stride, and one of his other scheduled starters, 4-year-old import Seafood Prince, was scratched.

“I think he would have won too,” the 24 year-old driver said.

Long had a big night at Rosecroft the night before with five wins and is the fourth leading driver at the Fort Washington, Md., track.

Long was most impressed Sunday by 7-year-old mare Funny Lil Grin ($3.80), his winner in the third race.

“I’ve been driving her at Rosecroft. She’s a pretty nice filly, but I had never really raced her on a half (half-mile track). She seemed to handle it pretty good.”

Long will compete at Ocean Downs this summer as many nights as he can.

“Once Rosecroft and Harrington close (the end of June and July 3, respectively), I’ll probably have seven or eight (horses) to race here, a couple young ones and a couple classy older horses,” he said.

Long’s four wins Sunday put him one ahead of drivers Frank Milby and William Carter. Carter had a pair of wins Saturday and one on Sunday. He was in the bike behind 5-year-old mare Manda’s Misty Clover ($3.80), who won her third this year and now has 14 for her career.

Three-time Ocean Downs leading driver Ray Robinson, Jr. posted his first 2008 win on Sunday by piloting 7-year-old Bold Xample to a fourth race win ($6.80).

One of the highlights on Saturday’s Opening Night was a win by nationally known driver George Napolitano, Jr. In his first career race at Ocean Downs he had the reigns on 9-year-old High Brook Lou, who won the first leg of the Bud Light Pace, a Late Closer race.

Napolitano likes the track.

“Oh the track’s awesome. Excellent half-mile track.”

The 42-year-old veteran driver has been racing recently at Harrah’s Chester in Pennsylvania, but enjoyed the more relaxed atmosphere at the Ocean Oval.

“It’s more like fair racing here. There’s no stress and pressure. I think people come here just to enjoy the game.”

The second division of the Bud Light Pace Saturday was won by 4-year-old Presidential Sam ($3.40), trained by Manley Brown, Jr., the leading trainer at Rosecroft, and owned by John Wagner. Frank Milby was the pilot and liked teaming with his friends from Rosecroft, where Milby is the leading driver.

“They (Wagner and Brown) usually put up good numbers,” Milby said.

The second leg of the Bud Light Pace is set for Saturday, June 21.

The leading trainers after only two nights in the 40-night summer meet are William Long and Joseph Eisenhower, Sr., who had two winners Saturday. One of Eisenhower’s wins was with 16-1 longshot Pretty Serious ($34.40) and the other was a win with driver Billy Carter as 11-year-old Night’s Wine Maker won his first of the year and 34th of his career.

William Long teamed with driver Sam Belote for a pair of victories. Ooo Ahh, a 9-year-old, won his second of the year in 15 starts ($13.20) and 4-year-old Chef Tommy D was first in the night’s only trot ($6.40).

Live racing resumes Saturday and Sunday, June 21 and 22, with a first post of 7:35 p.m. The world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales with full hitch will be at the track Saturday from 7:15 until 9:15 pm. Single horses will be available for public viewing/picture taking at Ocean Downs on Thursday, June 19, and Saturday, June 21, from 11:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon.

The Ocean Downs format of live racing on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday begins Wednesday, June 25, and continues through closing night on Sunday, August 24. For further information, call the track at (410) 641-0600.