On what was a beautiful night for harness racing in northeast Ohio, MGM Northfield Park played host to eight $34,722 Buckeye Stallion Series consolations on Sunday, Oct. 5.
Drivers Chris Page and Dan Noble together put on a driving clinic on Sunday, with all but one Buckeye Stallion Series consolations going to the pair.
Dublins Breanna (Enterprise-Brimfull) kicked off the Buckeye Stallion Series action, winning the consolation for two-year-old trotting fillies in 1:58.3 with Page. Cast No Stones (Aaron Merriman) set up shop on the lead and controlled the tempo through fractions of :29.4, 1:00 and 1:29. Entering the far turn, Page stepped on the gas with Dublins Breanna as she motored past Cast No Stones, drawing off late to win by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:58.3. Ranger Rosie (Tyler Angus) closed strongly to be second, while Shes In (Noble) finished third. Cast No Stones is owned by the 518 Group LLC and Ryan Smith. She is trained by Vernon Beachy.
Cruzin Tothe Pier (Downbytheseaside-Cruzin Tothe Dance) gave Noble his first Buckeye Stallion Series consolation win of the night in the event for two-year-old filly pacers. They rolled from off the pace and won by three-quarters of a length in 1:55.2. Things became dicey early as favourite Beach Babe Hanover (Chris Lems) was affected by a breaking Rhodena Blue before a :27.4 opening quarter. Beach Babe Hanover was able to gather herself and worked to the lead before the half in :57.3. Up the backstretch, Cruzin Tothe Pier began to roll and at the three-quarters in 1:26, she was at the throat of Beach Babe Hanover. Cruzin Tothe Pier gained the upper hand on her foes in the stretch and won convincingly. Mandaloun (Page) was second and Atom Heart Mother (Cameron McCown) was third. Cruzin Tothe Pier is conditioned by Ron Steck, who also co-owns with breeder Anvil And Lace Farm, Taggart Farms and Steven Jefferis.
Noble headed back to the winner’s circle after the third consolation for two-year-old colt and gelding trotters with Ready For Sunshine (Ready For Moni-A Ray Of Sunshine). After clearing rivals entering the first turn, Ready For Sunshine motored to an opening quarter of :28.4. As the field raced up the backstretch for the final time, it appeared as if Ready For Sunshine would win easily, but Uncle Danny (Anthony MacDonald) began to challenge the leader. Turning for home, Uncle Danny and Dans Victory (Chris Lems) both tried to collar the leader, but Ready For Sunshine dug down deep with the heart of a champion and won by a neck in 1:58.3. Owned by Robert Laniewicz, the colt is trained by Jason McGinnis.
Noble wasted no time getting back to the winner’s circle as he guided Aunt Lilly to a Buckeye Stallion Series Consolation victory for three-year-old trotting fillies, one race later. Aunt Lilly (Uncle Peter-Chuckys Luckycharm) had the perfect trip. She fired off the back of Sienna Sunrise (Page) late to win by a half-length in 1:56.3. Sienna Sunrise easily made the front entering the first turn and set modest fractions of :28.4, 58.3 and 1:27. Through the stretch, Aunt Lilly proved to be dominant as she powered past her rivals. The filly is trained by Steve Carter and owned by KAD Farms.
Rock Son (Pet Rock-Last Sam Standing) and Page used the rail to his advantage and won the Buckeye Stallion Series consolation for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings. Rock Son wasted no time defending pylon position and cleared his rivals entering the first turn, getting to the quarter in :27.4. Tsunami Beach (Luke Hanners) tried to overtake Rock Son as the field approached the half in :57.4. At the three-quarters in 1:26.3, Page began to edge away from the field with Rock Son and drew off to win by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:55. Rock Son is co-owned by trainer Charles Neff and Greg Mackanos.
The Page-driven Countryofmars (Marseille-Pine Country) was victorious in the Buckeye Stallion Series consolation for three-year-old colt and gelding trotters. Heavy favourite Countryofmars made the front before the quarter in :27.3, but Skyway Slick (Jason Beattie), parked from the word go, continued to apply pressure. The pair battled through much of the final three-quarters of a mile, with middle fractions clocked in :57.2 and 1:26.3, but as the field turned for home, Countryofmars was all class, winning by three lengths in 1:56.3. He is owned by James & Patty Borowski and trained by Jason Borowski.
Another winner for Page, Bars And Notes (Racing Hill-Pure Note) made every pole a winning one in the Buckeye Stallion Series consolation for three-year-old colt and gelding pacers. Parked to the opening quarter in :27.3 by Moons Up (Aaron Merriman), Bars And Notes made the lead entering the far turn for the first time. Page worked out a second quarter breather, arriving at the half in :57.2. While everyone seemed to take their shot at Bars And Notes, he managed to shrug them all off as he drew off in the stretch by 1-1/2 lengths, winning in 1:53. Moons Up was second and Butchershop Buck finished third. Bars And Notes is owned by the partnership of Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi and Knox Services. The sports leading trainer, Ron Burke, conditions the first and second-place finishers.
Driver Cameron McCown was the only thing stopping Noble and Page from sweeping the Buckeye Stallion Series events as he scored in the final consolation for three-year-old pacing fillies with Lona Dune (Downbytheseaside-Tripleton Hanover), who kept all challengers at bay through panels of :27.2, :56.4 and 1:25.2 en route to the 1:54.1 victory by 2-1/4 lengths. Trunk Bay Hanover (Tyler Smith) and Downthejerseyshore (Page) were second and third. The winning Brian Brown trainee is owned by Donald Robinson, Michael Robinson, Robert Mondillo and Strollin By Stables.
Both Noble and Page ended with six wins apiece when the 16-race card was complete.
(With files from Northfield Park; photo of Dublins Breanna winning on Oct. 5)