by Cheri Stambaugh, MSRF Administrator

Berlin, MD — A large crowd watched the first split of the Maryland Sires Stakes for 2-year-old pacing fillies open the Sunday (Aug. 19) card at Ocean Downs.

Reinsman Victor Kirby was content to sit fifth until the five-eighths with favorite B For Real (Rusty’s For Real), then took aim on the leader Toms Twinkle (Cam’s Rocket). The pair pulled away by 1-1/2 lengths in the 2:00.3 mile. B For Real is trained by Bryan Truitt Jr. and owned and bred by Bryan J. Truitt.

The sire Rusty’s For Real had a sweep of the filly paces when How Bout Dat Rusty flew out of the gate, leaving the rest of the field behind in the 9-1/2 length victory in the sixth race. Time for the mile was 1:57.2. Jonathan Roberts was in the bike for owner Al Carter and trainer Mike Hall. Carter Racing Stable was the breeder. Sophist (Up Front Charlie) finished second.

The colt and gelding trotters went to post as races two, three and five.

Mind Your Own Business (Lockkeeper), owned, trained and driven by Russell Foster, found the lead just past the quarter to finish four lengths ahead of Goocho Denaro (Googoo Gaagaa), stopping the timer in 2:01.4. Richard Hans was the breeder.

The second and third splits for trotters went to Googoo Gaagaa offspring owned, trained and bred by Richard Hans. Driver Frank Milby sent Gaareat Gaazoo out from post six in the wire-to-wire victory over Take My Photo (Lockkeeper). The time was 2:02.2.

Whoopdee Goo with Jim Morand between the wheels romped to a 21-1/2 length win, tripping the timer in 2:01.4. First time starter Plenty Tuff (Lear Jetta) was up for place.

Preliminaries continue Monday (Aug. 20) with the pacing colts and geldings and trotting fillies at 7:05 p.m.