Three-year-old colts and geldings took center stage on Monday evening, Aug. 10 at Ocean Downs, with four Maryland Standardbred Fund Stakes divisions contested on the seaside oval.
The first $35,069 trotting division produced the most decisive victory of the night as Booger Bear powered away from his competition to win by 10-1/2 lengths.
Driven by Johnathan Ahle and trained by Richard Hans, Booger Bear established control early from post two and never looked back. The son of Yall Beneath Me-Get Rich Quick led through every call, reaching the quarter in :29.2, the half in 1:00 and three-quarters in 1:29. He then turned in a sharp final quarter of :28.3 to stop the clock in 1:57.3. Convicted Criminal (Brandon Givens) finished second with Worldly Dream (Brady Brown) completing the trifecta.
A Hans homebred, Booger Bear has finished outside the top two just once in 12 career starts. His third win in five starts this year put his earnings into six-figures for the second straight season.
In the second $35,417 for trotters, Hattrick Patrick established control early and fended off a determined challenge from the favourite, Yall Got No Shot.
Driven by Brady Brown and trained by Steve Schoeffel, Hattrick Patrick left from post two and immediately moved to the front. The son of Father Patrick-Just For You controlled the pace through fractions of :29.1, 1:00.1 and 1:30. Yall Got No Shot (Russell Foster) moved forward from the outside and applied pressure during the latter stages, but Hattrick Patrick remained strong through the stretch. He crossed the wire in 1:58.3, 1-1/2 lengths ahead of Yall Got No Shot and 2-1/2 lengths ahead of Thiskissformaryell (Brandon Givens).
Hattrick Patrick, now three-for-13 this year after a winless rookie campaign, is owned by Kathy Schoeffel of Evans City, Pennsylvania, Lucky Lois Stable of Valencia, Pennsylvania and Roger Romesser of Arcade, New York.
Better Gon turned in a determined performance in the evening’s first $36,667 event for pacers.
Driven by Anthony Morgan and trained by Adrian Wisher Jr., Better Gon settled into fourth early before gradually advancing toward the leaders. By the 1:28 three-quarter-mile mark, the son of More The Better N-Graygon had moved into third advancing on the outside. Better Gon continued his advance through the stretch and surged late to secure the 1-3/4-length victory in 1:57 in a :28.3 final frame. Richie Boy (Corey Callahan) finished second while Inca Social (Roger Plante Jr.) was third.
Undefeated in seven freshman starts, Better Gon, owned by Frederick Weitz Jr. of Mantua, New Jersey, now sports two wins in four starts in 2026.
The second $37,014 pacing division featured another convincing performance, with Silent Investor being the pocket rocket.
Driven by Corey Callahan and trained by Robert Clark, the Always B Miki-Southwind Silence gelding sat the pocket behind pacesetter Stained Glass (Russell Foster) through fractions of :27.4, :58.1 and 1:27.3. As they turned for home, Callahan angled Silent Investor to the outside and moved away to a 1-1/2-length win in 1:56. Stained Glass held second with Beach Buggy (Russell Foster) well back in third.
Silent Investor, who earned his second win of the season in 13 starts, is owned by Clark Stables of Basking Ridge, New Jersey.
Maryland Standardbred Race Fund action continues on Wednesday evening with three divisions for three-year-old fillies. First post is 6:40 p.m.
(With files from Maryland Standardbred Fund)