Freshman filly trotters made a stop at MGM Northfield Park on Sunday, July 20 for the second leg of the Ohio Sires Stakes with the combination of driver Dan Noble and trainer Erv Miller winning two of the three $68,493 divisions.
Lucky Lady Volo (In Range-Lady Gill Again) kicked off the night for Noble and Miller in the first division.
Lucky Lady Volo left alertly, defending pylon position, and was greeted by foe Two By Four (Trevor Smith) entering the first turn. Mid-way through the turn, Two By Four made a break, and that allowed Lucky Lady Volo to inherit a two-length lead before the :29.1 first quarter. Noble was able to back down the pace in the second quarter, getting to the half in a leisurely :59.
As the field entered the backstretch, Noble was yet to face any pressure and got another soft panel, arriving at three-quarters in 1:28.1.Turning for home, Lucky Lady Volo was confidently driven by Noble, coming home to win by a half-length in 1:57.3. Range The Wish (Aaron Merriman) tried to rally late in the passing lane, but had to settle for second, while Sarahs Mission (Chris Page) finished third.
Owned by Ervin Miller Stable Inc., Kentuckiana Racing Stable, and Douglas Overhiser, Lucky Lady Volo pushed her career earnings to $79,393 in her second victory in four starts.
Things were not as easy for Noble and Miller in the second division as Demonic Niko (In Range-Cant Stop Marie) had to come from off the pace to win.
Speedbewithyou (Austin Hanners) fired quickly off the car to lead entering the first turn, easily clearing Another Chance (Chris Lems). Arriving at the quarter in :29.3, Hanners and Speedbewithyou had a comfortable 2-3/4-length lead. Hanners got a big-time breather in the second quarter, getting to the half in :59.4, that’s where Demonic Niko began to pick her way past the pack.
Fifth at the half, all of the sudden Demonic Niko charged to within two lengths of the leader entering the backstretch. At three-quarters in 1:28.3, Demonic Niko engaged Speedbewithyou, and the pair dueled through much of the final quarter. Through the stretch, Demonic Niko inched clear, winning by a half-length in 1:57.1. Speedbewithyou was second, while Another Chance finished third.
Owned by Ervin Miller Stable Inc, Anthony Lombardi, and Douglas Overhiser, Demonic Niko now has career earnings of $146,567 with three wins in four attempts. She is two-for-two in the Ohio Sires Stakes.
In the final division, Guardian Doll (Ronnie Gillespie) made a mid-race move en route to a maiden-breaking victory.
Kira (Aaron Merriman) and Rose Run Brooke (Luke Hanners) both left sharply and dueled into the first turn with Kira getting a slight upper hand before Rose Run Brooke made a break. Guardian Doll (Guardian Angel As-A Doll Face), who left from post eight, was not content to sit in the pocket, challenging Kira for the lead and clearing after a :29.3 first quarter.
Guardian Doll continued to lead the way through the half in :59 and three-quarters in 1:28.1, and she put away foes through the stretch, cruising to victory by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:58.1. A Long Breeze (Lems) closed to be second, and Kira faded to third.
Owned by Madison Global, Guardian Doll pushed her earnings to $51,701 in three outings with the victory. Gillespie trains the filly.
Live racing resumes on Monday at MGM Northfield Park with a 6:00 p.m. first post.
(With files from Northfield Park; photo of Lucky Lady Volo winning on July 20)