Three-year-old pacing and trotting fillies took center stage on Wednesday, July 8 at Ocean Downs as the opening preliminary leg of the Maryland Sire Stakes got underway. Two pacing divisions and one trotting division, each carrying a purse of $14,286, were contested on the fast track.
The pacing fillies were dominated by daughters of More The Better N, who captured both preliminary divisions.
In the opening division, Pamfin ($3.60) and driver Roger Plante Jr. worked out a perfect pocket trip before edging clear late to defeat Cedar Lane Lover (Mark Gray) by a three-quarters of a length in 2:01.1. Trained by Steve Le Blanc, Pamfin tracked pacesetter Im Feeling Spicy (Eric Davis) through fractions of :29.1, 1:01.2 and 1:31.3 before finding racing room in the stretch and prevailing in the final strides. Im Feeling Spicy held on for third after cutting the mile. Steve LeBlanc trains Pamfin for New York-based owners Thomas Maloney, Pamela Herbst Maloney and Steven Held.
The second pacing split produced another exciting finish as More Than Better ($4.60) rallied three-wide around the final turn to collar late leader Miss Vals Way (Jonathan Roberts) in the closing yards, scoring by a half-length in 1:57. Russell Foster drove the Herman Hagerman trainee, who overcame a fifth-place trip early before unleashing a powerful stretch kick. Miss Vals Way was a game second after taking over at the head of the lane, while Thatsloveto (Jonathan Ahle) finished a close third. Early leader I Say That Too (Corey Baden) established fractions of :27.4, :57.4 and 1:27 before yielding in deep stretch. The winning filly is owned by Ohio's Hagerman Racing.
The evening's lone trotting division showcased another impressive performance by the offspring of Il Mago, whose progeny filled the top five finishing positions.
Progressivekathy ($6), driven by Russell Foster for trainer Ronald Millman, tracked early leader Twisted Janet (Corey Baden) before wearing down her competition through the stretch to post a 1-1/2-length victory in 1:59.4. Twisted Janet set comfortable fractions of :30, :59.4 and 1:29 before Progressivekathy mounted her winning rally. Penn Tell Her (Roger Plante Jr.) completed the trifecta. A Sire Stakes champion last year, Progressivekathy is a homebred for Virginia owner Scott Woogen.
Foster was the night's only multiple Maryland Sire Stakes driving winner, capturing the trotting division with Progressivekathy and the second pacing division with More Than Better.
The Maryland Sire Stakes for three-year-old fillies continues next Wednesday, July 15 with the second preliminary leg as horses accumulate points toward the rich championship finals later this month. Three-year old colts and geldings return on Monday, July 13 for their second preliminary leg.
(With files from Maryland Standardbred Race Fund)