The opening preliminary leg of the 2026 Maryland Sire Stakes for three-year-old colt and gelding trotters and pacers kicked off Monday, July 6 at Ocean Downs, with one trotting division and two pacing divisions contested for purses of $14,286 each.
The evening began with the sophomore trotting division, where defending Maryland divisional champion Yall Got No Shot stamped himself as the early favourite in the series. Driven by Russell Foster for trainer/owner Richard Hans, the homebred son of Yall Beneath Me-Ginger Hanover controlled the action from the outset, carving out fractions of :29, :58.1 and 1:26.4 before drawing away to a commanding 17-3/4-length victory in 1:57. Stablemate Booger Bear (Roger Plante Jr.) completed a Richard Hans exacta, while Doctor Scott (Jared Moyer) finished third. The mile established a new stakes and track record for three-year-old gelding trotters.
The first pacing division produced the night's most exciting finish as B Real dug in gamely to prevail by a nose over Dapper Time and Inca Social in 1:56.4. Corey Braden guided the son of Rustys For Real-B Stern to the front just before the three-eighths marker before holding off the late challenge from the race favourite, Dapper Time (Russell Foster), through the stretch. Inca Social (Roger Plante Jr.) completed the trifecta only a nose back as well. Braden owns the winner while Stacey McLenaghan handled the training duties.
The second pacing division belonged to heavy favourite Better Gon, who delivered a front-end tour de force for driver Corey Braden, trainer Adrian Wisher Jr. and owner Frederick Weitz Jr. The son of More The Better N-Graygon dictated every step of the mile before sprinting home in :29 to score by 7-1/2 lengths in 1:56.3. Coach Cooley (Shane Griffith) rallied for second, with Beach Buggy (Russell Foster) finishing third.
The Maryland Sire Stakes series for three-year-old colt and gelding trotters and pacers continues with the second preliminary leg next Monday, July 13 at Ocean Downs. Three-year-old fillies take to the track on Wednesday, July 8 in the first preliminary for their Maryland Sire Stakes division.
(With files from Maryland Standardbred Race Fund)