by Cheri Stambaugh, Administrator, Maryland Standardbred Race Fund

Union Bridge, MD — John Wagner came away with four wins and two second place finishes in Maryland Standardbred Fund action on Saturday (August 14) at Ocean Downs.

His first win came in race eight with Winsmith Art (Real Artist) in a division of the 3-year-old colt/gelding pace in 1:56.3. In the ninth, J A’s Ayd (Broadway Hall) went wire-to-wire in 2:03.3 in a race for 3-year-old trotting fillies. Both were repeat winners in MSF stakes action.

Devil May Care (Badlands Hanover) took a 2-year-old filly pace event in 2:02.2 in the 11th race, while Wagner’s last win came in race 13 with Overnite Sensation (Western Hanover) off the front end in 1:57.1, giving him a sweep of the 3-year-old colt/gelding paces.

Ben Stafford, Jr. had his second driving double at the Ocean, piloting repeat winners Badlands Jenna (Badlands Hanover), a 2-year-old filly pacer, in 1:57.4 and Lucky Land (Badlands Hanover) in a division of the 2-year-old colt/gelding pace in 1:59.2.

After a slow start driver Jim Morand finally found the winner’s circle with Tough Challenger (You Betcha) in race 12. Tough Challenger has continued to dominate the 3-year-old colt/gelding trot, crossing the wire in 2:01. In the 14th and last race of the day Status Symbol (CR Commando) cut the mile, giving Morand his driving double in the second division of 3-year-old trotting fillies in 2:03.3.

Other winners were Girls Getaway (Donerail), winning her second 2-year-old filly trot; Mystical Mikel (Conway Hall), winning a division of the 2-year-old colt/gelding trot in his first appearance; and Giddyallyougot (Cam’s Card Shark) and Roger Plante, Jr. finding the winner’s circle again in a division of the 2-year-old colt/gelding pace.

Next up Tropic Storm (Dream Vacation) took the second division of 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings, while Nice N Nice (Blissfull Hall) won the first division for 3-year-old filly pacers. The other division of 3-year-old filly pacers went to Me In The Spotlite (Cambest) for the second straight week.

This Saturday, August 21, Ocean Downs hosts the Maryland Sire Stake preliminaries with the Showcase of Champions on August 28. Complete information and results can be found at www.msrfonline.com.