Eight Michigan Sires Stakes (MISS) finals were held Monday afternoon at Hazel Park, with four going being the gate as non-wagering affairs prior to the regular program. Although for the most part the races consisted of short fields, eight different stallions were represented in the winner's circle.
The quartet of races on the betting card got underway with the $35,172 MISS final for two-year-old male pacers. The Brad Kramer-driven Beastly was fourth at the three-quarters but the gelded son of Stampede Hanover-Todds Affair rushed past the competition in the final turn to draw clear by 10-1/2 lengths as the 1-9 favourite in 2:02.2. Man The Torpedo (Skip DeMull) was a distant second, with Chasing Jake (Jason Merriman) third.
Kelly Goodwin owns and trains Beastly, who won for the third time in six starts.
Kramer sent Lady Laker to the lead from Post 7 in the $39,377 MISS final for three-year-old filly trotters, and by the :58.1 half she had a three-length lead, expanding the margin to seven lengths at the 1:27 three-quarters. The 1-9 favourite then cruised to the wire 15 lengths in front in 1:58. Defending MISS champion Kendall Marie (Peter Otten) finished second, with Crazy Sherry (Carl Putnam Jr.) third.
A daughter of Lockkeeper-Hyercass, Lady Laker is trained by Al Tomlinson for owner David Vanderhyde. She was undefeated in four starts in 2012, and in 2013 her four wins also include the Hanover in mid-July at Balmoral Park. Her earnings went past the $100,000 mark with her MISS win on Monday.
Overwhelming favorite Thatll Be The Rei successfully defended his MISS title as Mike Micallef directed the son of Cheyenne Rei-Unspeakable Joy gelding to a wire-to-wire, 1:55.1 victory in the $37,827 MISS final for sophomore male pacers. Thatll Be The Rei defeated runner-up Lexington Avenue (Kody Massey) by five lengths, with Sharp Cheeser (Darrell Wright) third.
Micallef also trains Thatll Be The Rei for owner Dan Courtemanche. The win was his ninth in 14 starts this year and 18th overall in 24 career starts. Thatll Be The Rei increased his earnings to more than $120,000 with the victory.
Haberdashery busted the favourite brigade wide open in the last of the four betting races with a 50-1 upset in the $40,077 MISS final for three-year-old male trotters. The 1-2 favourite Zeplin, driven by Goodwin, appeared on his way to victory but when he broke stride in the stretch, it paved the way for Haberdashery and driver Jeff Sweeney to go on to the 2:02.4 victory. Zeplin recovered to finish second, with Winwood Scout and driver DeMull third.
A gelded son of Keystone Nordic-Ready Elegance, Haberdashery won for the first time in six career starts. The winner is trained and owned by Chris Allen.
All four early races were won in relatively easy fashion. Lady Windsor started things off with a 2:00.1 victory for trainer-driver Wright in the five-horse, $35,272 MISS final for two-year-old filly trotters. Keep It Sweet (Larry Lee Smith) was 13 lengths back in second, with Best Friend Always (Todd Buter) another 18 lengths behind in third.
E.J. Underwood III owns Lady Windsor, a daughter of Coventry-Rhonda T. The career-best win was her sixth straight in seven career starts.
Scrappy Alex and trainer-driver Putnam led wire to wire in the $35,222 MISS final for two-year-old male trotters to score in 2:09.3. SS RC CR (Rex Putnam) finished 2-3/4 lengths behind in second, with Just A Kid (Tim Roach) third.
A gelded son of Scrappy Robert-Classic Enterprise, Scrappy Alex is owned by Sam Heron. The win was his fourth in nine starts.
Kramer and Kayla Grace romped to a 15-1/4 length win in 1:58 in the $34,372 MISS final for two-year-old filly pacers. Sues Your Daddy (Jeff Sweeney), TC Country (Otten) and Winwood Elle (DeMull) finished second, third and fourth, respectively, as the short field crossed the wire in post-position order.
A daughter of Hes All That-A Maze Of Grace, Kayla Grace remained undefeated in nine starts. She is trained by Marie ‘Ginny’ St. Charles, who shares ownership with Ed and Cheryl Sayfie's ECS Racing.
Super Soph, whose nine-for-nine freshman season in 2012 included the MISS final, successfully defended that title with a career-best 1:53.2 score in the $34,627 contest for three-year-old filly pacers. Jason Merriman was in the sulky as Super Soph led gate to wire to defeat Dont Stare (Keith Crawford) by 2-1/2 lengths, with Reiwatch (Kramer) third.
A full sister to Canadian Hall of Fame inductee Admirals Express, Super Soph is a daughter of Admirals Galley-Platinum Card. Greg West trains Super Soph for owners Ryan Morefield, Brian Campbell and Mark Wamp. Her earnings now stand at more than $128,000.
(Hazel Park)