Grove City, OH – Monte Be Good recorded the fastest mile of the four $20,000 divisions of the first leg of the Buckeye Stallion Series for freshman colt pacers on Wednesday (July 15) at Northfield Park Racino.
Driven by Dan Noble, Monte Be Good led gate to wire and won the fourth division by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:56. The Monte Miki gelding is trained by Cory Deyermand for owner Kapp Equine Estates. He is now two-for-two this season with $14,500 in earnings. Monte Be Good recorded fractions of :28.4, :58.4, and 1:27.4 en route to the victory. Crownasaurus (Kurt Sugg) and Eagle Spirit (Ronnie Gilliespie) rounded out the top three in the race.
Hear The Thunder (Chris Lems) won the second division by one and a half lengths in 1:56.2. The Robert Brooks trainee led gate to wire with fractions of :28.1, :58.1, and 1:27.2 and has now hit the board in all five seasonal starts with three wins and two thirds to go with $15,030 in earnings. Nonstopseaside (Justin Irvine) was second followed by Kb Moneyball (Gillespie) in third. Hear The Thunder is a Catch The Fire gelding owned by Ivy Holdings.
Another Catch The Fire gelding, Into The Blaze, won the third division in 1:56.4. He was driven by his trainer, Gillespie, who owns the horse with Adam Friedland and Jacob Beard. Pre Fire (John Ciocca Jr.) led the field past the first three calls in :28.1, :59.1, and 1:28.2. Into The Blaze was in second place trailing the leader by one and a quarter lengths entering the final stretch before winning by three-quarters of a length with Pre Fire in second and Total Sum (Darren Dowler) in third. He is two-for-two on the season with $11,607 in earnings.
Making his debut purse start, Mental Up (Sugg) took the first division by two lengths in 1:57. The Lather Up gelding is trained by Mike Polhamus for owners Trojan Standard Bred and Newberry Stable. Rose Run Champ (Lems) led the way past the first three calls in :29, :59.3, and 1:28.1 and finished second but was placed third behind Seaside Saint (Noble) due to a break. Mental Up trailed the leader by two lengths at the three-quarter pole before taking the win.
The Buckeye Stallion Series continues Friday (July 17) with six $20,000 divisions of the first leg for freshman filly pacers as part of a 16-race card at Eldorado Scioto Downs starting at 5:25 p.m.
For more information:
Wes Mayberry
wmayberry@ohha.com
614-221-3650
The Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association (OHHA) is a non-profit organization serving Standardbred horse owners, breeders, trainers, drivers, and fans who participate in the sport of harness racing in the Buckeye State.
OHHA was founded in 1953. The mission of the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association is to preserve, protect, promote, and serve the entire Standardbred industry in Ohio and beyond.