Two-year-old trotting filly Wind Chime romped by 12 lengths in the second round of the Oak Grove Early Sire Stakes on Sunday, July 3 at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel to remain a perfect two-for-two in her young career. Cant Stop Lou also emerged from Sunday’s card undefeated after an adventurous journey in the sole $25,000 division for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings. Yo Lucky Moni, Over And Back, Hungry For Love and Flirtinwiththehelp were the winners of the other four divisions over the five-eighths-mile oval.
Wind Chime (Dexter Dunn) immediately grabbed the lead after leaving from post position four in the second of two $25,000 filly trot divisions. The daughter of Father Patrick-Wind Stroll simply trotted around the track with her seven rivals giving chase, to stop the clock in 1:55.1. Halekai Ill (Christian Lind) was second and was more than two seconds behind Wind Chime. Boudicca (Tony Hall) was third.
Trained by Tony Alagna, Wind Chime is owned by Andy Miller Stable, Gty Stable and breeders Walter Zent and Tony Holmes. She is a half-sibling to Windy Corner (sired by Yankee Glide, career winner of $207,576), Evening Stroll (Cantab Hall, $147,467) and Fast As The Wind (Cantab Hall, $722,389). Fast As The Wind is a top contender for this year’s Hambletonian. He was second in last year’s Breeders Crown final and recently captured the $251,000 Goodtimes Stakes.
Wind Chime paid $2.10 to win as the heavy favourite.
Flirtinwiththehelp (Trevor Smith) won the first division for filly trotters on the front end in 1:59.3. The daughter of Helpisontheway-Classical Flirt never had an anxious moment during her mile. Shopping In Paris (Hall) was second and Las Alturas (Andy Miller) was third.
Trained by Todd Luther, Flirtinwiththehelp broke her maiden her second attempt. She is owned by Black Magic Racing and was bred by Hayley and James Moore. The filly paid $35 as the public’s sixth choice in the field of eight.
Cant Stop Lou (Josert Fonseca) stopped the clock in 1:54.2 in the sole division for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings. The son of Sweet Lou and Cant Stop Me Now left from post seven in the field of seven. Already carried wide, the colt’s momentum was seriously impacted after Base Stealer (Logan Loney) broke shortly before the half-mile marker, but he gathered himself and strode to the wire with a :27.4 last quarter-mile. Seven Out (Miller) was second and Lootable (John MacDonald) was third.
Owned by trainer Nancy Takter, Jaf Racing, Rojan Stables, R A W Equine and Jeffrey Bell, Cant Stop Lou's record now stands at two-for-two. He was bred by Diamond Creek Farm and is a full sibling to Fortify ($462,287). Cant Stop Lou paid $5.60 to win.
Hungry For Love (MacDonald) collected her second victory in the lone division for two-year-old pacing fillies, winning in 1:53.2 by nearly four lengths. Leaving from post position 10 in the field of 10, the race favourite settled in fifth after leaving the gate but assumed command after the first quarter-mile. Prideful (Miller) was the public’s second selection and raced accordingly as the filly started in second and remained there until the wire. My Nay Nay (Devon Tharps) closed mildly to be third.
Ron Burke trains Hungry For Love, a Stay Hungry-Lover Of Art filly owned by Thomas and Scott Dillon and bred by Brittany Farms. Hungry For Love is a half sibling to Rock Me Baby (Rock N Roll Heaven, $394,523), Art Scene (American Ideal, $546,968) and Summer Charm (Bettors Delight, $468,081). She paid $5 to win.
Yo Lucky Moni took the first division for two-year-old colt and gelding trotters for his owner, trainer and driver, Verlin Yoder, in a swift 1:55.1. The gelded son of International Moni-Unbelindyble began to trot his mile from post position three and remained in third position until the three-quarter-mile marker. Overkill Hall (Dewayne Minor) made the race interesting but settled for second. Longtail (Dunn) was third.
Sent off as the second choice in the field of seven, Yo Lucky Moni paid $6.80. Bred by Lindy Farms of Conn, he now sports a record of 1-1-1 from three starts.
Over And Back (Miller) won the second division for his age, sex and gait by a head in 1:58. The son of Trixton-Chim Swift took the lead right at the start but relinquished after the first quarter-mile and was content to sit in the garden seat until the stretch drive. When given his cue, Over And Back battled last week’s winner and heavy favourite Whole Nother (Dunn) to the wire. Make A Wish Deo (Todd Warren) was third.
Trained by Chris Beaver, who also co-owns the gelding with Aaron Merriman, Renee Bercury and Johanna Beaver, Over And Back collected his first win in his second start. The rookie returned $15 to his backers. He was bred by Steve Stewart and Chris Beaver.
Now that the two sire stakes rounds for two-year-olds have concluded, a $25,000 consolation and $100,000 final will be held on July 17.
Second leg action for three-year-olds continues at Oak Grove on Monday (July 4). The $25,000 consolation and final for sophomores will be held on July 18.
Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel features live harness racing on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. First post is 3 p.m. CDT.
(With files from Kentucky Harness Association)