World champion pacing colt Downbytheseaside, the 2016 Governor's Cup champion, made his first appearance on the track as a three-year-old with an impressive qualifying victory on Wednesday afternoon (April 19) at Miami Valley Raceway.
With Chris Page in the bike for trainer Brian Brown, the son of Somebeachsomewhere-Sprig Hanover got away fifth at the opening quarter in :27.3, then brushed to the lead at the half which was clocked in :57.1. Downbytheseaside took the field to the three-quarters in 1:25.2 and came home in :27.4 to reach the wire in 1:53.1.
"He did it easy enough; we would have liked to have sit a little longer but there were a couple of horses not looking real safe so he moved him," Brown told Trot Insider. "A little bit grabby but he was OK so everything went the way we wanted it, everything was good."
Brown confirmed that the plan is to qualify Downbytheseaside again next Wednesday and he would look for more speed from his colt on that occasion.
Owned by Country Club Acres Inc., Joe Sbrocco, Richard Lombardo and Diamond Creek Racing, Downbytheseaside equaled the world record for a two-year-old pacing colt on a mile track when he won his International Stallion Stakes division in 1:49 last October at Red Mile. He won eight of 13 starts as a freshman, with earnings of nearly $645,000
Downbytheseaside has been installed as the #2 pick in Trot Magazine's 2017 Pepsi North America Cup Spring Book.
(with files from USTA)