Solid Performances In Standardbred Stakes

Published: September 20, 2007 10:57 am EDT

A total of four divisions of the Standardbred Stakes for two-year-olds were also contested on the Jug Day afternoon card, and Like A Dream, Wondrous Grace, Up Front Bethann and Swingbatterbatter all emerged victorious.

$61,807 Colt & Gelding Trot

Like A Dream ($9.60) and pilot Ron Pierce sat fourth through the first three quarters (:29.1, 1:00.3, 1:30.2) before moving three-wide and trotting home for the victory in 2:00 flat.

St Regis Hall (Kurt Sugg) and Built By Lindy (Kenny Kidd) finished second and third, respectively.

Conditioned by Bobby Brower, Like A Dream, a gelded son of Like A Prayer, tallied his seventh career win from his 11th start. Owned by DM Stables of Naples, Florida, the two-year-old now has over $80,000 in career earnings.

$31,954 Filly Pace (1st Division)

Wondrous Grace ($30.20) and driver John Campbell fired out from the outside Post 8, engineered a two-hole trip, popped out at the top of the lane and went on to record a maiden-breaking win in 1:55 flat.

Campbell and the daughter of Jate Lobell cut the opening quarter in :27.2, sat second through the :56.2 and 1:25.1 middle fractions and eventually tallied the victory over Im A Native Two (Brian Sears), who did most of the road work. Riven Hanover (Ron Pierce) finished third.

Owned by Mervin and Kelly Chupp of Crete, Illinois and trained by Stacey Ruddick, Wondrous Grace was making her eighth career start. The filly topped a $1,470.80 triactor and an $8,796.60 superfecta.

$31,954 Filly Pace (2nd Division)

John Campbell swept the filly pacing divisions when the Kelly O'Donnell-trained Up Front Bethann stepped to an impressive 1:54.4 win, equaling the U.S. season's record for a rookie pacing filly over a half-mile track.

With Yannick Gingras driving, Edra Hanover finished a good second. Intrinsic Value and pilot Troy Boring finished third.

Jazzy Arts Candy (David Miller) cut the opening quarter in :27.3 and Edra Hanover recorded the middle fractions in :56.4 and 1:25.3.

Campbell utilized a second-over trip with Up Front Bethann, who was game in the mile and went three-wide late for the convincing victory, her fifth in 10 starts this season.

"She's always had a big motor," said O'Donnell. "She gives you 110 per cent every time. She got a rough trip in the eliminations for the [Shes A Great Lady Stakes], but came back well and won the consolation in 1:52. She's an all around nice filly."

Up Front Bethann is owned by Ed Mullinax of Amherst, Ohio.

$36,404 Colt & Gelding Pace

Swingbatterbatter and driver David Miller came first-over on the final turn and was full of pace late to post a strong, mark-lowering victory in the final division.

Miller and the Jim Arledge Jr.-trained son of Allamerican Ingot were second-over earlier in the race. Swingbatterbatter's cover cleared to the front, giving the Tom Crouch-owned colt a clear lane to the finish line. Swingbatterbatter's 1:55.2 win was the second of his eight-race career.

The fractions were cut in :28, :58 and 1:26.4.

Badlands Jaden (Dave Palone) finished second and Southern Pee Wee (Brandon Bates) third.

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