Northfield Park hosted the second round of Ohio Sires Stakes (OHSS) action for three-year-old fillies, with two $40,000 divisions for pacing fillies and three $40,000 splits for trotting fillies, on its Saturday (June 27) race card.
Guinevere Hall kicked off the evening with a lifetime-best mile of 1:54.1 after winning in the first prelim with a 1:55 mile. Robin Banks finished a strong second with Lima Gold third. Guinevere Hall, trained by Melanie Wrenn for owners M T Pockets Stable and Dave McDuffee, left the gate as the 4-5 favourite with Peter Wrenn in the bike. Guinevere Hall was bred by Alan J. Leavitt of Kentucky and pushed her career earnings to $174,181 with this latest victory, the fifth of her career in 12 starts.
Kikimora made every post a winning one for driver Aaron Merriman and trainer Chris Beaver in the second OHSS division for trotting fillies. The 1-5 favourite, a homebred daughter by Triumphant Caviar for Sandra Burnett and Chris Beaver, tripped the timer in 1:54.2. Kikimora had also captured a division of the OHSS opening prelim at Scioto Downs two weeks ago in 1:54.1 and now has $41,320 in her seasonal bankroll and $251,516 in her career account.
Tootie, with Brett Miller driving, was second after sitting in the two-hole througout while 25-1 Delovely Hall raced well to get third.
Uncle Peters Love got the benefit of the rail to capture her OHSS trotting division easily in 1:54.2. It was her first win in the series following a second to Guinevere Hall in Leg one at Scioto Downs. Owned by Carl Howard and Joyce McClelland, the daughter of Uncle Peter now has $34,681 in seasonal earnings and $114,825 in career earnings. Randy and Michael Bennette bred the filly, who is trained by Virgil Morgan, Jr.
Longshot Team L was second for driver Hank LeVan, while another longshot, Aqua Lillies, was third for Ronnie Wrenn, Jr.
PJs Legacy, a daughter of Big Bad John-Walstans Legacy-Jennas Beach Boy, captured her $50,000 OHSS pacing division in a lifetime best of 1:51.3 for driver Ryan Stahl at 4-5 odds. The filly, who was bred by Walter Fister, won her first OHSS contest handily in a wire-to-wire effort in 1:52 as well. Owned by trainer Brian Brown, Hutchison, Ridder and Kantrowitz, PJs Legacy has $168,170 in career earnings.
Even-money favourite Ellagator was second for Ronnie Wrenn, Jr., while Princess Rockette with Aaron Merriman aboard finished third.
In the final $50,000 OHSS pacing filly split, 10-1 longshot Penpaperpaige wore down the 1-5 favourite McMarkle Sparkle to emerge victorious in 1:52.3 with Tyler Smith in the bike. The homebred Pet Rock lass upped her earnings to $98,476 and collected her eighth win for trainer Jeff Smith and owner Shirley LeVin. Artful Dancer was third for Chris Page.
Leg three of the Ohio Sires Stakes for three-year-old pacing fillies is scheduled for July 4 at Scioto Downs, while three-year-old trotting fillies will go postward in OHSS leg three on July 10 at Northfield Park.
(Ohio Sires Stakes)