Sophomore Fillies Speed At Northfield

Published: August 13, 2017 03:11 pm EDT

Pistol Packin Mama rocked to a 1:52.1 new lifetime mark in the first of three $40,000 Ohio Sires Stakes races on Saturday night (August 12) before a jam-packed Northfield Park crowd.

The Tyler George trainee – who is a daughter of The Panderosa, out of the Artiscape mare Art Debut – was the 1-5 public’s favourite handled by Trace Tetrick.

“She’s a very classy filly who just continues to improve,” noted Tetrick, who is one of Hoosier Park’s leading reinsmen.

Owned by the Herres Stable of Bellbrook, OH, Pistol Packin Mama upped her career earnings to $107,750 and now has seven wins and four seconds in 11 lifetime trips postward. She was bred by Ontario’s Brian Doyle.

Libbys Idea, a 30-1 longshot, was second for Aaron Merrian, while 25-1 shot The Lady Vanishes was third with Ryan Stahl in the sulky.

It’s rare that Ronnie Wrenn Jr. drives a 30-1 longshot — especially at Northfield Park — but he did just that, as he got Zoe Ellasen home under the wire first in the second sires stakes division (Race 8) in 1:52.1. Wrenn Jr. said that the sophomore pacing filly is improving with each start.

“She really hasn’t raced up to what we thought was her potential this season prior to tonight,” said Wrenn Jr., “but I think Ron (trainer Ron Potter) has her figured out now as she just was super gutsy tonight.”

Zoe Ellasen is a daughter of Santanna Blue Chip out of the unraced Bettors Delight mare Spring Delight. She bested 2-5 Rosemary Rose (driven by Mike Wilder) and Gorgeous Halie, a 16-1 choice driven by Tim Tetrick. Owned by Clyde Perfect of Lawrenceburg, IN, Zoe Ellasen has seven wins, a second and six thirds in 21 career starts and $147,231 in earnings.

Last but not least, it was Jayes A Lady who stole the show from the other sires stakes distaffers, as she paced to a track record-equalling 1:52 mile in the third sires stakes division (Race 9) for Yannick Gingras. The McArdle lass, who was sent off at odds of 5-2, upped her earnings to $118,134 with this latest victory.

The hard-trying Type A Grey was third for Chris Page at odds of 6-1, while 15-longshot Da Vinci Artist was third with Kurt Sugg at the lines.

Jayes A Lady now has five wins, three seconds and two thirds in 20 career starts for the Caviart Farms of Vienna, VA, who also bred the Nancy Johansson-conditioned sophomore. She is the second and most prolific foal out of the Artsplace mare Lunar Tide.

Also on the Northfield Park card, harness racing richest competitor ($7 million+), the 13-year-old Foiled Again, captured the $14,000 Open Handicap Pace for trainer Ron Burke and driver Yannick Gingras in 1:52. The son of Dragon Again posted a :27.2 final panel clocking in impressive front-stepping fashion.

In the $50,000 Myron Charna President’s Pace, it was Dancin Yankee and driver Brian Sears who prevailed with a front end effort in 1:50.3. The nine-year-old son of Yankee Cruiser is trained by Josh Green for Ohioan Richard Lombardo and L&J Racing of Pennsylvania.

Downbytheseaside and Brian Sears defeated stablemate Fear The Dragon (David Miller) with a game, first-over journey that saw him sweep under the wire first in a new track record clocking of 1:49.3 in the $300,000 Carl Milstein Memorial. Both three-year-olds are conditioned by Ohio-based trainer Brian Brown and both have well over $1 million each in earnings. Downbytheseaside is a son of Somebeachsomewhere, while Fear The Dragon is a son of Dragon Again.

(OSDF)

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