Beach Babe Hanover kicked off a triple for trainer Sam Schillaci on Monday, July 14 at MGM Northfield Park as the fastest winner of five $27,397 Buckeye Stallion Series (BSS) first-leg divisions for two-year-old filly pacers.
Beach Babe Hanover (Chris Lems), one of three BSS winners by Downbytheseaside, tripped the wire in 1:55.4 to win the second split. She left from the rail and settled into the pocket behind leader Fire Country (Tyler Smith), who led at all three calls in :28.3, :58.4, and 1:27. With Moonlight Ride (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) moving first-up and challenging on the outside, Beach Babe Hanover was third at the three-quarter mark before moving into the passing lane to challenge Fire Country down the stretch. Beach Babe Hanover edged Fire Country by a neck at the line with Standerosa (Aaron Merriman) finishing third.
Beach Babe Hanover ($10.20), out of Bittorsweet Terror, has hit the board in both starts in her career, adding a third-place finish on debut to Monday’s win. She is owned by Schillaci Stables LLC, John Manning, Sam Bova Racing LLC, and Howard Berke.
Schillaci also won with Downbythewater ($2.20) in the 12th race and Chip In Blue ($9) off the layoff in the 14th for three wins on the 16-race card. Schillaci is winning at a 20.3 per cent rate this year and is second in the Northfield standings, 30 tallies back of Cory Kreiser.
Making her first career start, the Downbytheseaside-Summer Charm filly Seaside Charm (Chris Page) won the fourth BSS division in 1:56.4. Billboard Model (Kayne Kauffman) led through the first three calls with fractions of :29, :59, and 1:27.3. Seaside Charm was third entering the final stretch, trailing Billboard Model by over three lengths. But the Ron Burke trainee made a late charge in the passing lane to take the lead en route to winning by two lengths over Billboard Model with Cruzin Tothe Pier (Greg Grismore) in third. Seaside Charm ($11.80) is owned by Thomas Dillon and Scott Dillon.
Jamie Amanda (Smith) was the third Downbytheseaside filly to win a BSS race on Monday, taking the fifth division in 1:56.4. Leaving from post seven, she settled in third past the :28 quarter through the :58.4 half. Smith took Jamie Amanda first-up at the halfway mark, and she drew alongside leader Diosa De La Danza (Tyler Angus) as they crossed the three-quarter mark in 1:27.3. Jamie Amanda took the lead around the final turn and pulled away to win by 3-1/2 lengths with Odds On Dividend (Page) in second followed by Gochujang (Wrenn) in third. Jamie Amanda ($10.80) is owned by Let It Ride Stables, Odds On Racing, and trainer Virgil Morgan Jr. The filly, out of Omen Hanover, is now two-for-two.
Eyes Up (Dan Noble) won the first division in 1:56.4. The Deborah Swartz trainee scored her first win in her second career start, leading the entire way with fractions of :28.2, :59, and 1:27.4. The Lather Up-Dazzling Rockette filly won by a length over Baxter Tough (Smith) in second with Dragon Cruise (Cameron McCown) in third. Eyes Up ($4.80) is owned by Harry Alltop and Darlene Alltop.
Madetorockette (Luke Hanners) took the third division in 1:57.2, getting her first career win in her second start. Leaving from post three, the Jim Arledge Jr. trainee was sixth at the :29.2 quarter, over 11 lengths back of leader Summa Deeva (Carson Conrad). Still sixth at the :58.4 half, Madetorockette moved third-over before making it four-wide at the front of the field and into second place at the 1:27.4 three-quarters. Madetorockette continued her late burst on the outside to win by 1-1/4 lengths over Queen Valerie (Page) in second with Summa Deeva third. Madetorockette, by Pet Rock-Standing Danette, is a homebred for Sharon Edelman.
Lems and Merriman led all drivers with three wins each while Smith doubled up.
The second leg of the BSS for two-year-old filly pacers is scheduled for July 23 at Northfield.
(With files from Ohio Harness Horseman's Association)