Multiple world record holder Downbytheseaside, the No.2-ranked colt in Trot Magazine’s 2017 Pepsi North America Cup Spring Book, recorded his second qualifying performance of the year on Wednesday, April 26, and the son of Somebeachsomewhere did it in victorious fashion.
Driver Chris Page led the bay colt out for Race 2 during Miami Valley Raceway’s qualifying session. The duo lined up in Post 5 and took a wait-and-see approach early.
Page and Downbytheseaside got away fourth and remained in that position through the :27.2 opening quarter and the :57.1 opening half.
The winner of eight of 13 races stepped it up in the third quarter, as he scooted to the lead and was ahead by two lengths by the time he tripped the three-quarters clock in 1:23.4.
Downbytheseaside poured it on in the final quarter, as he was up by seven lengths at the head of the lane and ended up nailing the wire almost 11 lengths the best. The Brian Brown trainee came home with a :27.3 final quarter and stopped the clock in 1:51.2.
The colt’s seasonal charted debut had come on April 19, when he registered a 1:53.1 qualifying win by multiple lengths over Miami Valley.
While speaking with Trot Insider earlier in the season, Brown said that Downbytheseaside would probably be pointed to the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes if all goes according to plan.
"As long as he qualifies and trains [well], I would try for the first leg of the [Pennsylvania] sire stakes,” said Brown. “He's not eligible to the Somebeachsomewhere. Right now we're leaning toward the first start would definitely be the sire stakes, as long as he's ready and qualifies [well]. The next start we're probably leaning more toward the sire stakes second leg, or he could go to the Art Rooney. We don't know for sure."
Downbytheseaside, who was a $65,000 yearling purchase at the 2015 Lexington sale, is owned by Country Club Acres Inc. (of Findlay, Ohio), Joe Sbrocco (Brecksville, Ohio), Richard Lombardo (Solon, Ohio) and Diamond Creek Racing (Wellsville, Pennsylvania).