Be My Baby Now and Chulo broke their maidens in style at Eldorado Scioto Downs, winning the $150,000 Next Generation divisions for two-year-old trotters on Friday (July 2).
Confidently driven by Chris Page, Be My Baby Now won the filly division in 1:57.4. Initially the pair got away sixth from post four, but two breakers going into the first turn moved them up into fourth. Martysmagicmoment (Ray Paver) set quick early fractions of :27.4 and :56.4 with favourite Aunt (Kayne Kauffman) sitting in the pocket and Oftom (Anthony MacDonald) third. The field tightened up as they went to the three-quarter pole in 1:27, but there was no change in position among the top four horses yet.
Oftom was the first to pull with Be My Baby Now catching that cover. As the field straightened out, Be My Baby Now took over the lead off cover. Aaron Merriman and Reichers Lady took a hard left and came up the passing lane to finish second while Moments Created (Kurt Sugg) got up for third. Sent off at 2-1, Be My Baby Now paid $6.80 to win.
Be My Baby Now is by What The Hill and out of the Raffaello Ambrosio mare Baby Bella. Bred by Stephanie Smith-Rothaug, she was sold at the Ohio Select Yearling Sale for $47,000 to owners Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi, Knox Services and Hatfield Stables.
“Stakes season in now in full swing,” said Page. “The Next Generation is my second favourite race of the year besides the OSS (Ohio Sires Stakes) final. Winning it for the Burke connections, my main account, makes it even better.”
Chulo shipped in from New Jersey after winning a qualifier at Magical Acres to take the colt division in 1:57. Parked and pressing on from the nine-hole, driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr. got Chulo to the lead after the :29.2 opening quarter, but yielded to the pocket behind Rose Run Xtreme (Don Irvine Jr.) by the :58.2 half. Coming off Chulo's back, Dan Noble pulled Creatine Star and brushed to the lead heading to the 1:27.2 three-quarters. Chulo moved into second with Rose Run Xtra (Chris Page) just to his outside. Wrenn then took Chulo up the passing lane to win by a half length over Creatine Star. Rose Run Xtra held on for third while Voyageoficeandfire (Anthony MacDonald) was fourth.
Chulo, also by What The Hill, out of the Majestic Son mare Chula was bred by Renee Spahr and is leased by Buckstone Land Livestock. Going off at odds of 7-1, Chulo paid $16.80 to win.
The final two divisions of the Next Generation, for pacers, will take place Saturday (July 3). The field of nine filly pacers are in race six, while the colt and gelding pacers are in race 10. First post is 6:15 p.m.
(Eldorado Scioto Downs)