Iluvmymoni set a new world record during the fourth leg of the Ohio Sires Stakes for freshman colt trotters at Northfield Park on Monday, Aug. 17.
Driven by David Miller, Iluvmymoni won the evening's second $104,167 division by 3-1/4 lengths in 1:54.3, setting a new world record for two-year-old gelded trotters on a half-mile track. The Ready For Moni gelding out of Iluvwineandroses was on top at the quarter in :28.1 and set subsequent fractions of :57.3 and 1:26 before trotting home :28.3 for the record win. Favourite Mind On My Moni (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) was second followed by Rolln In Moni (Chris Lems) in third.
Iluvmymoni eclipsed the former half-mile track world record for two-year-old trotting geldings of 1:55 set by A Real Legend in mid-August of 2022 at Northfield. The time was one second and one-fifth off the overall freshman male record of 1:53.2 held by colt Rumple Strips.
Iluvmymoni, who was an $83,333 Ohio Select Sale yearling purchase, earned his third Sires Stakes win for trainer Steve Carter and owners Brixton Medical of Matawan, New Jersey and Hatfield Stables of Columbus, Ohio. He also has two runner-up finishes on the year, with earnings of $168,455 in his first five starts.
Earlier on the card, Debt Free and driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr. won the first Ohio Sires States division as the favourite by three-quarters of a length in 1:55.1 after making an early three-wide move to the front from the trailing tier. Motor Earle (Mike Micallef) and Lou Armstrong (Justin Irvine) rounded out the top three.
Debt Free is trained by Vernon Beachy for Ohio owners 518 Group of New Philadelphia, Gitup Racing of Garrettsville and Ryan Smith of Dennison, as well as Canonsburg, Pennsylvania partner Todd's Auto. Also a winner in the third leg of the Sires Stakes, the Ready For Moni-Feelsofree gelding has hit the board in all five seasonal starts with a 3-1-1 record while banking $170,042.
Celebrating its 50th season, the Ohio Sires Stakes continues on Tuesday, Aug. 18 with the fourth leg for freshman filly pacers at Eldorado Scioto Downs.
(With files from Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association)