by Cheri Stambaugh, for the Maryland Standardbred Race Fund
Berlin, MD — The Maryland Standardbred Fund races were in the spotlight at Ocean Downs on Thursday (August 11) as seven divisions of 3-year-olds went to post.
Badlands Jenna (Badlands Hanover-Jenna’s Joy) won her fifth start in a row, taking the first filly pace spilt in 1:57.2 for Ben Stafford and Winbak Farm. Badlands Jenna is undefeated in Maryland Standardbred Fund stakes at two and three.
The second division of filly pacers went to Devil May Care (Badlands Hanover-Turn For The Best) who cut the mile in 1:58.1 for reinsman and co-owner John Wagner and Winbak Farm.
Owner/trainer Richard Hans continued his trips to the winner’s circle when My Baby Momma (Tejano-Kora’s Trotter) recovered from a break at the quarter pole to win the filly trot in 2:02.2 Jonathan Roberts was in the bike.
Just Like Lloyd (Like A Prayer-Lindy’s Bell) gave John Wagner his second appearance in front of the camera when he stopped the timer in 2:02.3 in the race for trotting colts/geldings. Just Like Lloyd is owned by Pam Wagner.
In the other split for trotting colts/geldings it was a two-horse battle through the stretch as Tropic Storm (Dream Vacation-Gleaming Image) prevailed over Im The Cash Man by a nose in 1:58.2. Vic Kirby was in the bike for the Chambers Stable.
The first division of pacing colts/geldings went to Modern Day Clyde (Bonnie And Clyde-Ashlee Lyn) who had the perfect pocket trip before catching Winsmith Syd in a photo. The 1:54.3 mile was a stakes record. Jeff Fout drives and trains for owners Joe and Joann Thomson.
Ray Robinson, Jr. sent Giddyallyougot (Cam’s Card Shark-Pocketbook Champion) gate-to-wire in the second division of pacing colts/geldings wiith a mile in 1:57.4. Ronald Davis is the owner.
On Wednesday (August 10) the 2-year-olds stepped up to the plate with undefeated GooGoo GaaGaa (Cam’s Rocket-Kora’s Trotter) shattering the stakes, track and national season’s leader charts for trotting colts on a half-mile track with a win in 1:57.3. Jim Morand was in the bike for owner/trainer/breeder Richard Hans.
First time starter J A’s Charmer (CR Commando-Anastasia J A) took control at the quarter pole, holding off a late charge by Alleigh Girl in 2:04 in the filly trot. John Wagner drives and trains for Pam Wagner.
In the 2-year-old colt/gelding pace, Ben Stafford took both divisions in impressive fashion. Mudslide (Dragon Again-Kahlua Queen) posted a winning time of 1:56, defeating Three Mints by three lengths. Breakin The Law (Artiscape-Arl’s Troublemaker) charged down the stretch in his split, taking the photo in 1:57.4.
Denyittotheend (Tell All-Youcancountonme) took the early non-wagering event for filly pacers in 1:58.1. Jim Morand was the pilot for trainer Les Givens and owner Steven Head.
Owner/trainer/breeder Bryan Truitt sent Bag Of Tricks (Cam’s Card Shark-Semalu A Priori) to the front and never looked back, setting a stakes and track record of 1:56.4 for 2-year-old filly pacers in the other division.
Ocean Downs will host the Maryland Sires Stake events for the next two weeks ending with the “Showcase of Champions” on August 25.