Trainer Darren Ferrell notched a hat trick on the 12-race card on Thursday, June 27 at Ocean Downs, continuing a solid start to the meet for the Maryland horseman.
Ferrell picked up two of his wins with meet-leading driver Jonathan Ahle, who guided claiming pacers Mystic Waze ($3.20, 1:55.4) and Photobombr Hanover ($3.80, 1:54) to victory. Ferrell completed his training triple in the finale, an Ocean Club Amateur Drivers event, with 1-5 favourite Bet On Buter, whom John Littleton Jr. drove to a pillar-to-post 1:57 win.
Ahle picked up for wins on the night. He started his grand slam with Brian Burton trainee Half A Virgin ($3.00), who took a second-level conditioned distaff pace in 1:55.4 after vacating the pocket on the far turn and evading 17-1 outsider Sweet Lil by 2-1/4 lengths.
The 27-year-old driver then teamed up with Jerry Nock pupil Rustys Houdini ($14.80), who rallied off second-over cover to down Ladyford Dollar GB by a head in 1:55 in a third-level conditioned pace.
With just over a quarter of the 2024 meet complete, Ahle has won 33 races at Ocean Downs, outpacing Trae Porter, who is second with 20 wins, and the tandem of William Carter and Russell Foster, who are currently tied for third with 14.
Ferrell jumped into third place in the trainer standings, winning at a 50 per cent clip thanks to a 7-1-3 summary from his 14 starts.
Live racing returns to Ocean Downs on Sunday, with a 10-race card featuring the opening leg of the Maryland Sire Stakes for three-year-old colts and geldings. First post is 7:05 p.m. (EDT).
(with files from Ocean Downs)