Kasey Bendix and Virginia Marvel's homebred Fancy Like That delivered another devastating blow to her Maryland Sire Stakes competition on Wednesday, July 17 at Ocean Downs, beating Covid For Real by 11-1/4 lengths in 1:55.3 in a $13,699 second-round preliminary for three-year-old pacing fillies.
The Rustys For Real-Scootin Woody filly coasted through a :58.2 first half on an uncontested lead in line to Johnathan Ahle before using back-to-back :28.3 second-lap splits to steadily edge clear from pocket rival Covid For Real. Yourgracefound Me finished third.
Bendix trains Fancy Like that, whose 15th career win pushed her earnings to $180,699 through 25 starts. She paid $2.10 to win.
Only I Exist won the non-wagering $13,699 Maryland Sire Stakes for three-year-old trotting fillies, defeating Emilys Locket by 21-1/2 lengths in 2:00.1. Russell Foster drove Richard Hans' homebred Yall Beneath Me-Get Rich Quick filly, who now has earned $236,187. She is perfect in five starts this year to improve to 11-for-12 lifetime.
A pair of second-round Tom Cooke Memorial divisions were conducted off the card as well, with Casino Magic (2:08.1, Roger Plante Jr.) and Chex Check (2:05, Trae Porter) winning their respective $11,644 splits of the event for two-year-old trotters.
In the $16,439 Open 1 Handicap Trot, Coventry Hall ($4.80) sprinted clear from post four to control fractions of :28.1, :57.2 and 1:25.4 before steadily edging away from his seven rivals for a five length, 1:55.2 score over Judge Bob and Along In Time. Trae Porter drove the victorious seven-year-old Cash Hall gelding for trainer Michael Hall and owners William and Sarah MacMillan.
In the $16,438 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap Pace, Square Deal ($6.40) and driver Tony Morgan sustained a sixth-to-first brush to overtake early pacesetter Jody at the bell before evading her by two lengths to win in 1:52.3. Got The Gold finished third. Willard Reynolds trains the four-year-old Heston Blue Chip mare for owner Mark Howard.
Ahle and Porter led all drivers with three wins apiece.
Live harness racing returns to Ocean Downs on Thursday, with a 12-race program featuring four divisions of the Diane "Mum" Stevenson Memorial claiming series. First post is 7:05 p.m.
(Ocean Downs)