Northfield, OH – Freshman filly trotters made a stop at MGM Northfield Park on Sunday (July 20) in the second leg of the Ohio Sires Stakes with driver Dan Noble and trainer Erv Miller winning two of the three $50,000 divisions.
Lucky Lady Volo (In Range-Lady Gill Again) kicked off the night for Noble and Miller in the first division.
Lucky Lady Volo left alertly defending pylon position and was greeted by foe Two By Four (Trevor Smith) entering the first turn. Mid-way through the turn, Two By Four made a break and that allowed Lucky Lady Volo to inherit a two-length lead before the :29.1 first quarter.
Noble was able to back down the pace in the second quarter, getting to the half in a leisurely :59.
As the field entered the backstretch, Noble was yet to face any pressure and got another soft panel, arriving at three-quarters in 1:28.1.
Turning for home, heavy-favorite Lucky Lady Volo was confidently driven by Noble, winning by a half-length in 1:57.3. Range The Wish (Aaron Merriman) tried to rally late in the passing lane, but had to settle for second, while Sarah’s Mission (Chris Page) finished third.
Owned by Ervin Miller Stable Inc., Kentuckiana Racing Stable, and Douglas Overhiser, the 2-year-old filly pushed her career earnings to $58,000.
Things were not as easy for Noble and Miller in the second division as Demonic Niko (In Range-Cant Stop Marie) had to come from off the pace to win.
Speedbewithyou (Austin Hanners) fired quickly off the car entering the first turn, easily clearing Another Chance (Chris Lems). Arriving at the quarter in :29.3, Hanners and Speedbewithyou had a comfortable 2-3/4 length lead.
Hanners got a big-time breather in the second quarter, getting to the half in :59.4, but that’s where Demonic Niko began to pick her way through the pack.
Fourth at the half, all of the sudden Demonic Niko was within 1-1/4 lengths of the leader entering the backstretch.
At three-quarters in 1:28.3, Demonic Niko engaged Speedbewithyou, and the pair dueled through much of the final quarter.
Through the stretch, Demonic Niko inched clear, winning by a half-length in 1:57.1. Speedbewithyou finished second, while Another Chance finished third.
Owned by Ervin Miller Stable Inc., Anthony Lombardi, and Douglas Overhiser, the filly now has career earnings of $107,500 with three wins in four career starts.
In the final $50,000 division, Guardian Doll (Ronnie Gillespie) made an early move and won in 1:58.1.
Kira (Aaron Merriman) and Rose Run Brooke (Luke Hanners) both left alertly and dueled into the first turn with Kira getting a slight upper hand before Rose Run Brooke made a break.
Guardian Doll (Guardian Angel As-A Doll Face), who left from post seven, was not content to sit in the pocket, challenging Kira for the lead and clearing after a :29.3 first quarter.
Guardian Doll continued to lead the way through the half in :59, three-quarters in 1:28.1 and through the stretch put away her foes, drawing off to win by 1-3/4 lengths. A Long Breeze (Chris Lems) closed to be second, Kira faded to third.
Owned by Madison Global, Guardian Doll pushed her earnings to $37,745 with the victory.
Live racing resumes on Monday (July 21) at MGM Northfield Park with a 6 p.m. (EDT) first post.