Maryland Sire Stakes spring champions Tony Babe and Geralds A Keeper both found their way back to the Ocean Downs winner's circle in $13,699 second-round splits of the Maryland Sire Stakes for three-year-old colds and geldings on Sunday, July 14 — the former after tasting defeat in round one; the latter on the strength of a building win streak.
In Sunday's pacing division, Tony Babe (pictured above), who sustained a mild bid for a no-match second to Cloggs For Real in the first round, used his inside position to protect the early lead and control splits of :27.4 and :58.2 over Cloggs For Real, who settled in the pocket after leaving from the outside in the four-horse field. When Cloggs For Real broke stride up the backstretch, Tony Babe and driver Jonathan Roberts saw their lead increase to four lengths, and they increased it to 4-1/2 at the end of a 1:56.1 mile. Cloggs For Real reset to finish second, but he was disqualified to fourth after his miscue interfered with both Petes For Real, who was elevated to second, and The Editor, who was elevated to third.
Ronald Short owns, trains and bred three-time winner Tony Babe, a gelded son of Rustys For Real-Aunt Babe who has now banked more than $90,000 in his career. The winner returned $3.80.
In the trotting division, Geralds A Keeper earn his fourth consecutive win, rolling to the front from his outside post six and never looking back. Trae Porter controlled soft splits of :30.3, 1:01.2 and 1:31.1 with the Lockkeeper-Brilliance Hanover gelding before 3-5 favourite K J Dash emerged out of third on the far turn to bid for the lead. Geralds A Keeper held his ground and prevailed over K J Dash by 1-1/4 lengths in 2:00.3. War Pony finished third, beaten five lengths, after gapping the pocket in the homestretch.
John Wagner trains Geralds A Keeper, who has won five times and went over the $100,000 earnings mark, for owner Kelsey Wagner. He paid $4.40 to win.
Driver Tony Morgan swept both Open events, winning the $16,438 Open 1 Handicap Pace with On The Cards N ($2.80), who held off a late challenge from Rhythm Of The Rein by three-quarters of a length in 1:54 for trainer Willard Reynolds; and $15,068 Open 2 Pace with Photobombr Hanover ($4.20), who scored his fifth win in a row by holding off Babes All In in 1:54.1 for trainer Basil Sapienza.
Morgan's four wins on the 12-race card led all drivers, while John Wagner notched a training hat trick.
Racing returns to Ocean Downs on Tuesday, July 16, with a 13-race card headlined by a pair of second-round divisions of the Bucky Gray Jr. Memorial for two-year-old pacers. First post is 7:05 p.m.
(Ocean Downs)