by Ozi Menakaya, marketing/publicity director, Ocean Downs

Berlin, MD — Racing at Ocean Downs on Thursday evening (August 20) featured the second half of the Maryland Standardbred Fund Races. The 1,300-plus racing fans in attendance were treated to races involving 2-year-old pacers and trotters.

Southern Allie, a 2-year-old gelding, arrived at the Ocean Oval undefeated, having won all three of his lifetime races. The youthful racehorse trained by Jerry Nock raced in a pacing division of the 2-year-old colts and geldings.

The colt didn’t seem to mind his five hole starting position, making it known that he cared more about his finishing position. Chuck Perry, Jr. drove Southern Allie to the front of the field early, where they never relinquished the lead. Southern Allie ($2.40) took the wire five lengths ahead in 2:00. The win marked Southern Allie’s fourth lifetime win, keeping his undefeated record intact. Finishing second to Southern Allie was Gone Nuclear, driven by Jim Morand.

After the race an impressed Perry stated, “I don’t see him losing any races in Maryland. Get ready to watch him do big things in other states next year!”

Morand, fresh off his six-for-six performance Wednesday evening, returned to continue his winning streak in the Maryland Standardbred Fund Races. Disappointment struck in his first race of the evening and his quest to win seven consecutive races ended.

The first Fund race of the night ended with Winbak Patty (Morand) being held off in the homestretch by Touch The Clouds, driven by John Wagner. The win for Touch The Clouds was the pacing filly’s first ever, as it was also her first race ever. James Wilson trains the filly.

Beaten but not broken, Morand won in the next Maryland Fund Race behind Tough Challenger ($2.40). The trotting colt from the Nanticoke Racing Stable won his race by ten lengths in 2:03.2.

Back on the winning road, Morand also won his next race in the Maryland Standardbred Race Fund. Rising to the occasion behind Hans Knows Best ($4.20), Morand won his eighth race in the event with the pacing colt in 1:58.2. Richard Hans trains and owns the colt.

Nice N Nice (Ronald Malone) was a winner in a 2-year-old pacing filly event, scoring in a time of 2:01.2. Richard Malone Sr. is the owner/trainer.

Emily Do (John Wagner) was a wire-to-wire, 2:06 winner in a race for 2-year-old filly trotters. The filly is also trained by Wagner, who co-owns with Lloyd Arnold.