What has been the secret to Bubblles Out’s success in the Buckeye Stallion Series thus far? Trainer Trish Foulk says there’s no magic formula.
“She’s been fortunate so far with her draws and Chris Page has driven her really well," said Foulk. "She’s just been in really good spots.”
After not racing as a two-year-old, Bubblles Out has gotten off to a great start this year with six wins in nine starts. She also holds the distinction of being the only horse to win each of the first two legs of the Buckeye Stallion Series for sophomore filly pacers.
Page, who drove her to victory in the first two legs, credits the Downbytheseaside-Valerya filly for much of her own success.
“She’s probably a Sires Stakes filly racing in the Buckeye. She’s probably a notch better than the others right now,” he said. “There’s not a bad trip for her — she can win from the front, she can win from last, she can win from second-up. When you have all those tools in your arsenal, it makes my job as a driver easier.”
Bubblles Out will look to keep her unbeaten streak in the Buckeye intact as one of 37 fillies competing across four $20,000 USD divisions at Eldorado Scioto Downs on Friday, July 4. Page is again the driver of choice after winning the opening leg in 1:53.1 at MGM Northfield Park and the second leg in 1:51.2 at Scioto.
“Any time you get Chris, you’re ahead of the game,” said Foulk. “He’s been a good friend for a long time. You can’t go wrong with him.”
Bubblles Out is the 9-5 morning line favourite in the fourth division, but staying perfect probably won’t come easily after drawing the far outside post. She will also be contending with a pair of first-leg winners in 9-2 second choice Maddies Delite and Pink Jammies.
“She drew the nine-hole, so it’s going to be tough — she has her work cut out for her,” said Foulk. “Anything can happen, but things will definitely have to line up for her.”
Page is confident Bubblles Out has what it takes, though, as she reminds him of another fast horse he has driven — her mom, Valerya. In seven seasons from 2011 to 2017, Valerya racked up 30 wins and more than $277,000 in earnings, and Page recognizes her speed in Bubblles Out. He just hopes to continue to be part of the filly’s ongoing development.
“Seeing as she didn’t race as a two-year-old, she was kind of a crapshoot, so it’s been cool watching her mature,” he said. “I’ve been trying to do the right things with my driving to make her successful but also keep her sharp all year long.”
Owned by Foulk Stables, Bubblles Out has $72,606 in earnings this season and posted her lifetime best of 1:50.4 on June 13 at Scioto.
Page is also scheduled to drive Euphoria Rising, the 4-1 second choice behind 2-1 morning line favourite Queen Of Fear in the third division. Kurt Sugg will drive Queen Of Fear, who has one win and one second in three seasonal starts. The Edward Miller trainee has hit the board in seven of 12 lifetime starts with $223,347 in earnings. She is owned by Miller and Ashley Dunn.
Friday’s first and second divisions both feature a pair of winners from prior legs. In the first division, Rylee Too enters as the 2-1 morning line favourite. Jeremy Smith is set to drive the Steve Carter trainee as she seeks her first Buckeye win of the season. The Lather Up-Rylee Roo filly has hit the board in five of six career starts with $35,372 in earnings and a lifetime best of 1:51.3. She is owned by SCP Stable. At 5-1, Survivin Fire shares the same odds with My Hare Legend as the second choice in this division, which also includes Romeos Juliet. Survivin Fire and Romeos Juliet both recorded victories in the second leg at Scioto, doing so in lifetime bests of 1:52.1 and 1:51.2, respectively.
Second-leg winner Judge Me Again is the 5-2 morning line favourite in the second division and will leave from post two alongside first-leg winner Four Carat Rock along the rail. Four Carat Rock shares 7-2 odds with Seven Sisters as the second choice in the division. Trevor Smith is set to drive Judge Me Again for trainer Chris Beaver. The Western Vintage-Naked At The Beach filly has hit the board in six of seven starts this season with two wins, including the second leg of the Buckeye at Scioto in a lifetime best 1:51.3. She has $47,781 in lifetime earnings and is owned by Beaver, Jim Burnett, Leo Fleming and Tim Homan.
Friday’s Buckeye Stallion Series races at Scioto are part of a 16-race Independence Day card that also features the $25,000 USD Fillies and Mares Open. First race post time is 3:15 p.m.
(With files from Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association)