by Cheri Stambaugh

Berlin, MD — The Maryland Sire Stakes season got underway on Sunday (July 20) with 2-year-old preliminaries at the Casino at Ocean Downs.

Once again the stallion Cam’s Rocket has produced a winning 2-year-old pacer and trotter. Richard Hans continues to take chances breeding his trotting mares to pacing stallion Cam’s Rocket and only time will tell how good this year’s colt will be.

Here I Am (Cam’s Rocket-Give Em The Boot) had an equipment malfunction when an elbow boot came down in last week’s MD Standardbred Fund stake, causing him to make breaks the last half. Here I Am came out sporting a new pair of leather elbow boots this week and that seemed to do the trick as driver Jim Morand cut the mile in 2:02.2, winning by 1-1/4 lengths over Doggone Slots in the colt and gelding trot.

In the pacing colt and gelding division Toms Typhoon (Cam’s Rocket-High Speed Racer) won over stablemate Tom’s Tornado by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:57.3, giving him two wins in two stakes starts for owner Thomas Cooke. Roger Hans trains and driver Jim Morand picked up his second stakes win for the night.

Filly pacer Helaine’s Firebird, a daughter of Allie’s Western-Flannel Yankee, coasted to a seven length win in 2:04.3 after Jodi’s Sweety caused interference in the first turn. George Dennis drove the filly for owner Frank Chick and trainer Kevin Lare.

The 2-year-old trotting filly Betcha Ur My Baby (You Betcha-Sweet Dreams Baby) redeemed herself this week, staying flat and making every pole a winning one for owner Pam Wagner, trainer Duane Wagner and reinsman William Long. Time for the mile was 2:06.1. Marshalinn held on for second.