Race fans attending the races this Sunday evening (July 17) at Ocean Downs will be witnesses to a racing under saddle event that will feature a competitive field of eight trotters vying for a purse of $5,000.
The race is sponsored by Back On Track, Friends of Maryland Standardbreds, RUS America, and Ocean Downs. The non-wagering event will take place after the evening’s sixth pari-mutuel race.
Leading the field is Hyway Marcus, who won this event last year at Ocean Downs in a crisp 2:02 mile. Being ridden by Maria Buchanan, the five-year-old trainee of Ron Burke prepped for this race with a qualifying victory at Gaitway Farms in 2:01.3 and will start Sunday night from Post 7.
Hyway Marcus will be challenged by Iron Will (Post 4), who has been victorious in three of his four lifetime RUS contests. The ten-year-old gelded son by Credit Winner won July 8 at the Afton Fair in 2:11 after having qualified at Vernon Downs a week earlier in 2:02.1. Iron Will will start from Post 4.
Another one to watch is Jeanie Marie, who will be ridden by Emma Wahlberg, who won her RUS debut at the Oswego Fair in 2:07 over a ‘good’ track on July 5. Prior to her victory at Oswego, she won a qualifier at Vernon Downs in 2:02. Jeanie Marie will start from Post 2.
Three starters that will make their debuts on the RUS circuit Sunday are Shanghai Jack, Mr Protab and No Recess. While Shanghai Jack finished second to Hyway Marcus in a Gaitway qualifier, Mr Protab and No Recess come into the race off of qualifying victories.
The complete field for the Ocean Downs RUS event appears below.
$5,000 Trot - RUS
(PP Horse – Trainer – Rider)
1 Shanghai Jack – Nick Surick – Helene Gregory
2 Jeanie Marie – Jennifer Sansone – Emma Wahlberg
3 My Friend Charliie – Andrea Pratt – Andrea Pratt
4 Iron Will – Jennifer Sansone – Heather Reese
5 Mr Protab – Francisco Del Cio – Stephanie Jacobs
6 No Recess – Kyle Spagnola – Michelle Crawford
7 Hyway Marcus – Ron Burke – Maria Buchanan
8 P L Incoming – Josh Green – Sasha Moczulski
After the race, there will be a meet and greet for fans to be able to meet the race riders. The estimated post time is 9:15.
(RUS America)