Three-year-old filly trotters were back in Buckeye Stallion Series action Sunday night (May 28) at MGM Northfield Park. Four of the five first-leg winners were back, but only Crystas Legacy was able to find the winner’s circle.
Five divisions, each with a purse of $20,000, highlighted the Memorial Day weekend card at the Flying Turns.
Crystas Legacy made it two-for-two in the Buckeye Stallion Series as Ronnie Wrenn Jr. piloted the Long Tom filly to a lifetime mark of 1:55.4. Crystas Legacy sat behind Vintage and caught the leader by mid-stretch, winning by a length. Trained by Brian Miller and owned by Leroy Keim, Crystas Legacy earned her second win in five starts this year. Vintage was second with Coupe Deville third.
In the first division of the night, Go Long Katie with Ronnie Gillespie stalked the leader, Gabbys Teddy Bear, the final half-mile. Finally making her move mid-stretch, she pulled away to win by a length in a new lifetime mark of 1:56.4. Dalton Walls trains and co-owns the daughter of Long Tom with Bruce Soulsby. The win was Go Long Katie’s first of the year in five starts. CVs Serena finished second with Gabbys Teddy Bear fading to third.
Kurt Sugg picked up the first of his two Buckeye Stallion Series wins in the second division as he piloted 19-1 longshot Bee Stormin to the win. Sugg took the pocket trip and rallied the Stormin Normand filly down the lane to win by a nose in a photo finish in 1.56.3. Trained by Charles Vigneron and owned by Cheryl Vigneron, Bee Stormin set a new lifetime mark as she won for the first time this year in six starts. Waddupgee was second and Bougielikenatty was third.
The best time of the five Buckeye Stallion Series races was turned in by Victoria Leigh as she cruised to a gate-to-wire victory in a lifetime mark of 1:54.4. Sugg picked up his second series win of the night for trainer Miles Wollam and owners Martin Wollam and Bob Troyer. The daughter of Long Tom has won two of her five starts this year. First-leg winners Pariso and Smokinhotirishgirl rounded out the top three.
In the final division, Chris Page guided Shes Loveable to an easy two-length victory in 1:58.1 The win was the second of the year from six starts for the What The Hill filly. Shes Loveable is trained by Ron Burke and owned by Burke Racing Stable, J&T Silva Stables, Knox Services and RAS Racing. Passionate Promise was second with Ilikeitinthedark being third.
Buckeye Stallion Series action resumes June 7 at Northfield Park as the three-year-old colt pacers take to the track.
The $20,000 Open Trot has been a race not to miss as of late at Northfield Park and on Sunday that was no different as Flemsteen made things look easy, closing from off-the-pace to win by a nose.
While there wasn't a world record set this week, there was plenty of pace up front, with Swan Fine Lady leaving alertly to secure the lead into the backstretch the first time. Favourite Rose Run Xtra wasn't content with a two-hole ride, so he challenged the leader and cleared past the quarter in :27.2
Heading to the half, Flemsteen floated to the outside for Aaron Merriman, getting within two lengths of the leader, who hit the half in :56.1. Into the backstretch the final time, Flemsteen continued to apply pressure to Rose Run Xtra and Swan Fine Lady.
Rose Run Xtra battled on at the rail past three-quarters in 1:24.1 and, turning for home, looked like a winner, but Flemsteen had other ideas, rolling off cover and getting up in the shadow of the wire to win in 1:52.2. Rose Run Xtra had to settle for second while Swan Fine Lady finished third.
The win was the 13th of the year for the five-year-old son by Explosive Matter who is owned by Christopher Beaver, Bill Manes and RBH Ventures. The victory pushed Flemsteen's earnings to $369,055.
In the $20,000 Open Pace, Carolina Beach avenged his recent losses scoring a 1:50.1 victory.
Driver Aaron Merriman wasted no time putting Carolina Beach on the lead and opened up two lengths into the backstretch, getting to the quarter in :26.3. Carolina Beach tried to get a breather in the second panel. Still, Merriman showed no signs of slowing down, with a :54.4 half.
Speedy Dominic A, Saulsbrook Genesis and Alamnac began their bids on the outside, looking to upend the early leader. Carolina Beach showed a lot of grit at three-quarters in 1:22, holding off all challengers, but Speedy Dominic A looked poised to strike around the final turn. Through the stretch, he fended off all pressure to win by a neck over Saulsbrook Geneis and Almanc.
Owned by trainer Renee Bercury, nine-year-old Somebeachsomewhere gelding Carolina Beach earned his 55th career victory and boosted his earnings over the $700,000 mark.
The Pick 5 eluded bettors once again on Sunday, causing a carryover of $20,368. The pool is estimated to reach over $125,000 when all is said and done.
Live harness racing resumes on Tuesday evening (May 30) at 6 p.m. (EDT).
(With files from Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association and Northfield Park)