Favourites swept the fourth leg of the Buckeye Stallion Series for two-year-old filly trotters on Tuesday, Sept. 3 at MGM Northfield Park. The driving and training duo of Anthony MacDonald and Jason McGinnis won two of the four $27,027 divisions.

Aunt Lilly (pictured above) produced the fastest mile of the division winners in 1:57.3. Guided by MacDonald, 1-5 favourite Aunt Lilly let the dust settle for only a moment before popping the pocket while headed to the :29.3 opening quarter. The daughter of Uncle Peter easily gained control and never looked back. Aunt Lilly set remaining fractions in :59.1 and 1:28.4 before winning with nearly five lengths to spare. Wild As You (Aaron Merriman) finished second and Dublins Martini (Ronnie Gillespie) was third.

Aunt Lilly has hit the board in each of her seven lifetime starts, winning three times. The series victory was Aunt Lilly’s first since her win in the Next Generation hosted by Scioto Downs.  She has bankrolled $159,448 under McGinnis. Aunt Lilly is owned by Thestable Aunt Lilly Grp and Hutchison Harness.

Freedom Hill gave MacDonald and McGinnis their second series win of the night in the fourth division. The daughter of What The Hill left alertly from the second post position. Multiple miscues scattered the field in the first turn, but 1-2 favourite Freedom Hill marched on to set fractions in :29.4, 1:01.2 and 1:31. Pulling away, Freedom Hill won by 4-1/2 lengths in 2:00.1. Little Miss Jo (Jason Thompson) was second while Mia Sangria (Merriman) finished third.

The victory marks the first series win for Freedom Hill, who has won two of her seven starts overall. She has earned $68,343 from six on-the-board outings for Thestable Freedom Hill and Hutchison Harness.

Countonluna scored her third Buckeye Series win in the first division. The Full Count filly made certain she was on top directly out of the gate. Trained and driven by Daren Harvey, 9-5 bettors' choice Countonluna was all business as she set fractions in :29.3, 1:00.1 and 1:30.1. Holding off challengers, she stopped the clock in 1:59.3. Wild Child Annie (Hunter Myers) held on for second one length behind with Iwillmakeyouproud As (Austin Hanners) in third.

Countonluna has won five of her six lifetime starts, earning $57,897. Her lone second-place finish came in a previous leg of the Buckeye Stallion Series. Harvey co-owns alongside Eric Hershberger. 

Sienna Sunrise set a new lifetime mark of 1:58.3 in the second division. At 4-5 odds, Sienna Sunrise and Myers refused to set in a pocket beyond the :29.3 opening quarter. Once on top, the daughter of Enterprise marched to the half in :59.2. With no challengers at the 1:28.4 three-quarters pole, Sienna Sunrise confidently won by two lengths. Annie L (Hank LeVan) rallied for second and Mona Lisa Hill (Chris Lems) finished third.

Michael Lee trains Sienna Sunrise. The filly has hit the board in five of seven lifetime starts, with two wins and $54,337 banked in purses. Lee co-owns alongside James Beluscak, Robert Carson and Dr. Jill Dentel.

Buckeye Stallion Series action continues with freshman colt pacers on Wednesday, Sept. 4 at Northfield Park.

(With files from Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association)