Grove City, OH — It was an action-packed night of Ohio Sires Stakes racing at MGM Northfield Park Wednesday (July 26). Two $55,000 divisions for freshman filly trotters were contested along with three $40,000 divisions each for 2-year-old filly pacers and colt trotters. Sugar Instead continued to show her dominance over the filly trotters, while Downbytheseaside fillies dominated the filly pace.
Sugar Instead and Ronnie Gillespie made it three straight in the Sires Stakes. The daughter of Volstead made it look easy, grabbing the lead heading to the quarter pole and cruising to a 5-3/4 length win in 1:56.4. Trained by Virgil Morgan Jr. and owned by Joyce McClelland and Larry Wills, Sugar Instead has earned $112,500 in her freshman campaign, winning three of four races. Legacy Affair finished second with Roxanna third.
In the other division for filly trotters, One Fancy Lady and Don Irvine Jr. rolled up the backstretch from fourth, reeling in the leader Purplepeopleater at the top of the stretch and holding on to win by a neck in 1:58. It was the first win in four starts for the Long Tom filly. One Fancy Lady is trained by Rosy Weaver who co-owns with Heartland Acres and Kabby D LLC. She raised her earnings to $30,250 with the win. Purplepeopleater was second with Maxine’s Hill third.
The 2-year-old filly pacing division was dominated by Downbytheseaside fillies.
In the first division, heavy favorite Heartofthesea with Ronnie Wrenn Jr. raced to the lead at the quarter pole and stayed there, winning by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:55. It was the second win in three starts for the Brian Brown trainee. Heartofthesea has earned $44,800 this year for owners Country Club Acres, Wingfield Brothers, and David Van Dusen. John’s Shadow finished second with Seriously Fearless third
The second division was a battle for Seaside Diva and Chris Page. After leading through the first half of the race, Seaside Diva gave up the top spot to Fearless Ginger and Chris Lems heading into the final turn. Around the final turn, Seaside Diva fought back, grabbing the lead and holding off a late charge by Fearless Ginger to win by a half-length in a new lifetime mark of 1:52.3. Seaside Diva has hit the board in four of five starts, winning two. Trained by Ron Burke and owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Knox Services, and Let It Ride Stables, Seaside Diva has earned $82,750 this year. Fearless Ginger held on for second with Rose Run Zoey finishing third.
The final division for the freshman filly pacers went to Flyin Bullets who has won back-to-back Sires Stakes races. Flyin Bullets and Brett Miller were sixth at the half-mile mark, went three-wide up the backstretch, and finally grabbed the lead mid-stretch to win in 1:53.4, a new lifetime mark. It was the second win in three starts for Flyin Bullets who is trained by Clair Umholtz. Owned by Umholtz & Kennedy Racing, Flyin Bullets has earned $45,000 this year. Beautiful Lather was second with Venice Blue Chip third.
In the first of three divisions for the 2-year-old colt trotters, Royal Precedent and Aaron Merriman raced to the lead off the gate and fought off a late challenge from Deville Hill and Dan Noble to win by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:58.1. It was the second OSS victory for the son of Creatine who has won three of four starts for trainer Sam Schillaci. Owned by Claude Gendreau Stable, Royal Precedent has earned $60,750 this year. Deville Hill held on for second with Irresistible Son and A Million In Coins finishing in a dead heat for third.
In the second division, Gypsy Hill made his move to the Sires Stakes a successful one as he rallied down the stretch to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:58.2. The What The Hill colt with Anthony MacDonald trailed the leader E-pass by 6-3/4 lengths at the three-quarter pole, but rallied around the final turn and down the stretch to win. It was the third win in four starts for the Jason McGinnis trainee who had previously won two legs of the Buckeye Stallion Series. Gypsy Hill has earned $47,500 this year for Thestable Gypsy Hill Group and Hutchison Harness. E-pass finished second with Hung Over third.
The final division for the freshman colt trotters went to Tennessee Tom and Page. Page took the Long Tom colt to the lead off the gate and fought off a challenge around the final turn from Commander Tom to win by 1-1/2 lengths in 2:00.1. The Burke trainee has won twice in four starts, earning $77,500 for Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Hatfield Stables, and Knox Services. Rose Run Zoom was second, nipping Commander Tom at the wire.
Ohio Sires Stakes action continues Saturday night (July 29) at Eldorado Scioto Downs.