Berlin, MD — The first round of preliminaries for the 3-year-old Maryland Sire Stakes kicked off on a beautiful Monday night (June 28) at Ocean Downs with lots of families and kids cheering for their favorite horse or driver.

After visiting the face painting lady, several of the young spectators even got to get their picture taken with a winner.

The trotting colts and geldings opened the card with the favorite Funnyfunnyriddle (Lockkeeper) taking control by the half, then holding off a late charging Kaaching Kaaching by three-quarters of a length for reinsman Jim Morand. Les Givens trains the winner for Nanticoke Racing Inc., James Magno and Joseph Fonte. Time of the mile was 2:04. Funnyfunnyriddle has won five of his six starts in 2021.

The first split for pacing fillies saw a newcomer to the Maryland stakes, Hillbilly Fantasy (Dr Dreamy), go wire-to-wire, stopping the timer a length in front of favorite Wowie Zowie in the 1:59.1 mile. Steve LeBlanc trains Hillbilly Fantasy for owner Charles Myers and Sean Bier received the driving assignment.

The continued rivalry between Madisonsallin (Rusty’s All In) and Samantha’s All In ( Rusty’s All In) had the crowd cheering loudly as they charged down the stretch in the second division of filly pacers. With only a half-length between them, Madisonsallin caught Samantha’s All In in the last couple of strides of the 2:00.3 mile. John Wagner was both the driver and trainer of Madisonsallin for owner Pam Wagner.

The stakes continue on Wednesday (June 30) with the trotting fillies and pacing colts.