Berlin, MD — A trio of divisions for two-year-old fillies headlined Wednesday (July 30) night’s Maryland Standardbred Race Fund (MSRF) card at Ocean Downs, showcasing promising trotting and pacing talent from across the region.
In the $50,000 division for two-year-old trotting fillies, Show Pony (Captain Corey-Upside Blue Chip), driven by Russell Foster and trained by Richard Hans, delivered a powerhouse performance. The Captain Corey filly took command from the outset and never looked back, drawing away by 10-1/4 lengths in 2:00.4. Owned and bred by Hans, Show Pony is out of Upside Blue Chip and looks poised for a strong freshman campaign.
Progressivekathy (Anthony Morgan) and And Just Like That (Johnathan Ahle) rounded out the top three in the trotting division, with the latter also trained by Hans.
In the first pacing split ($29,900), Midnight Party (Tall Dark Stranger-My Lady Day) lived up to her favorite status, going gate-to-wire in 1:58.4 with Ray Schnittker in the sulky. The Tall Dark Stranger filly is co-owned by Schnittker, Yankeeland Partners LLP, and Steve Jones, and was bred in Delaware by Frederick Hertrich III. She held off a late bid from More Than Better (Morgan), while I Say That Too (Corey Braden) claimed third after a ground-saving trip.
In the second pacing split ($30,150), Make It Right (Papi Rob Hanover-Make Mine Mocha) took the spotlight with a sharp 1:56.4 victory. Guided by Allan Davis for conditioner Jim King Jr., the Papi Rob Hanover filly cut sharp fractions and sprinted home in :28.1 to hold off odds-on favorite Sport N A Crush. Bred by Frederick Hertrich III and co-owned by Gary McCandless, Jo Ann Looney-King, and Larry Rathbone, Make It Right flashed talent and resilience in just her second lifetime start.
Next week the three-year olds will compete in Maryland Standardbred Fund events with the colts and geldings going on Monday (August 4) while the fillies compete on Wednesday (August 6).
The Marland Standardbred Race Fund continues to offer a premier platform for homegrown talent to emerge and thrive on the Mid-Atlantic harness racing stage.
For more information on upcoming stakes events and eligibility, visit www.msrfonline.com.