by Daina Kazmaier, Rosecroft Publicity Office

Ft. Washington, MD — The most talented two and three-year-old trotters and pacers in Maryland will meet head-to-head in the Maryland Sires Stake finals on Saturday, October 8 at Rosecroft Raceway.

Several divisions of the Sires Stake preliminary races, each holding a purse of $3,000, were contested over the past weekend.

On Friday evening, September 30, Jerry Nock and Honolulu Hunk ($5.00, $3.40, $2.40) swept a field of two-year-old trotters by 12 and a half lengths, winning the second leg of the Sires Stakes easily for owner Bill Clark, Jr. in 2:01.1. Onstar K ($2.80, $2.80), owned, trained and reined by Bill Long, finished second and Misty Moonlight ($2.20) crossed under the wire third with the guidance of Syl King, Jr.

The three-year-old colt and gelding trotters were dominated by Loud Speaker ($3.00, $2.10, $2.10) and Donnie Russell in 2:02.3. The talented Loud Speaker lad hit the lead at the half-mile pole and refused to back down, proving victorious for owners Marilyn Marsh and Harry Marsh, Jr. Ypres ($2.10, $2.40), driven by Kelly Staten, finished second, only a half length behind Loud Speaker, while Snazzy Jazz ($2.80) earned a third in front of Bill Long.

Leon Harris’ Go Go Girl won easily against Beautiful Dreamer (Kelly Staten) in the early, non-betting race worth $3,000, leading the mile from the word “go” to win by 13 and a quarter lengths in 2:09.2. Jewett Pumphrey drove the two-year-old trotting filly to victory.

Saturday evening (October 1) showcased the Sires Stakes pacers and brought the rivalry of Nuclear Breeze and JA’s Outlaw to the track.

Trained by Manley Brown, Jr., JA’s Outlaw ($7.60, $2.10) left the gate confidently from post five for reinsman Victor Kirby and cut moderate fractions of :28, :59.1 and 1:28.4, wiring for the win in 1:56.2. Nuclear Breeze ($2.10) trailed the JK Outlaw pacer for the entire mile, closing with a final quarter of :27.2 to miss the win by a nose.

Nuclear Breeze, owned by Tom Cooke, currently has a mark of 1:50.4 and over $87,000 in lifetime earnings. The pair will meet again in the Maryland Sires Stake Final on October 8.

Outlawed Beauty ($3.00, $2.20, $2.10) notched an easy win in the division for three-year-old filly pacers, topping the field by eight and a half lengths for driver Bill Long. Master Of All Men ($3.00, $2.10) and Donnie Russell finished second, while Southern Leah ($2.10) and Tim Curtin were third.

In the division for freshman pacing colts, Man He Can Go ($5.60, $4.60, $2.40) beat Control Freak ($3.00, $2.10) by half a length in 1:57.4 for the Callahan connections. Control Freak, reined by Donnie Russell, paced a notable final quarter of :27.2 as the favorite. Kosher King ($2.10) was third with Mark King in the sulky.

Live racing action resumes next Friday, October 7, with a regular post time of 7:20 p.m. Post time for the special Showcase of Champions card on October 8 is set for 7:30 p.m.