It was the Downbytheseaside show at MGM Northfield Park on Wednesday, July 19 as his daughters swept the three $40,000 Ohio Sire Stakes divisions for two-year-old filly pacers.
In the first division, Heartofthesea (dam Martinique) and Ronnie Wrenn Jr. took the pocket trip, grabbed the lead on the backstretch and drew away to win by 5-1/2 lengths in 1:53.2 with a :27.4 final frame. It was the first career win for the Brian Brown trainee after a third-place Sire Stakes finish in her July 8 debut. Heartofthesea is owned by Country Club Acres, Wingfield Brothers and David Van Dusen. Cruiser Cancelled finished second with Queen B And Me third.
Seaside Diva (dam Real Diva) and Chris Page went to the lead after the quarter pole in the second division and cruised to an easy 3-1/4-length victory in 1:53. Trained by Ron Burke, Seaside Diva won for the first time in four starts. Seaside Diva is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Knox Services and Let It Ride Stables. Rose Run Zoey was second with Sistermarystigmata third.
In the last division, Flyin Bullets (dam Pistol Packin Mama) and Brett Miller rallied from fifth around the final turn, shot down the passing lane and won by a half-length in 1:54.1. Trained by Clair Umholtz and owned by Umholtz And Kennedy Racing, Flyin Bullets broke her maiden in her second career start. Fearless Ginger finished second with Sarah Said third.
Driver Anthony MacDonald and trainer Jason McGinnis teamed up to win two of the four $20,000 divisions of the Buckeye Stallion Series for freshman filly trotters, also held Wednesday night. MacDonald drove McGinnis trainees Purplepeopleater and Sedona Hill to wins.
He raced Purplepeopleater to the lead, winning in gate-to-wire fashion by three lengths in 1:59.3. McGinnis trains the What The Hill-Purple Sona filly, who broke her maiden in her second start, for the ownership group of Thestable Purplepeopleatr and Hutchison Harness. Graces Fashion finished second with Its A Girl Thing third.
Sedona Hill, a daughter of What The Hill-Sonalona Hanover, took the lead at the quarter pole and did not look back, winning by a length in 2:00. It was the first win in three starts for Sedona Hill, who is owned by Thestable Sedona Hill Group and Hutchison Harness. Looksgetlonger was second with Volaris third.
Another division was won by Midnight Nolan and Kurt Sugg when they took the lead past the quarter pole and cruised to a 3-3/4-length victory in a new lifetime mark of 1:57.1. It was the second win in as many starts for the son of Uncle Peter-Love Child. Both wins have been in the Buckeye Stallion Series. Midnight Nolan is trained by Dan Walski and owned by Walski Stables. Hips Like Honey finished second with Gabbys Treasure third.
Butter N Syrup, driven by Dan Noble, got a pocket trip, swung wide around the final turn and drew away by 4-1/2 lengths to win as first asking in 1:59.1. Butter N Syrup is trained by Miles Wollam and owned by Dark Horse Farm. Osaka Hall was second with Elisdreamgirl finishing third.
Ohio Sires Stakes action continues on Saturday at Northfield Park with one division of three-year-old colt pacers. First race post time is 6 p.m.
Meanwhile, Eldorado Scioto Downs will host the next Buckeye Stallion Series event on Thursday featuring six divisions of freshman colt trotters. First race post time is 5:50 p.m.
(With files from Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association)