Richard Hans' homebred two-year-old trotting colt Yall Keep Dreaming was never in doubt in the Maryland Sire Stakes preliminary leg on Sunday, Aug. 18 at Ocean Downs, coasting to a 2:04.3 decision over a pair of John Wagner trainees for his second victory in as many starts in his young career.
With Johnathan Ahle at the lines in the $13,699 non-wagering stakes event, Yall Keep Dreaming strode to a clear lead from the pole, seating Swervingmervin in the pocket through a :30.2 first quarter. The pair remained uncontested from there, rating middle splits of 1:02.2 and 1:34 before using a :30.3 last quarter to evade runner-up Magoo Will Do, who inherited the second spot from a breaking Swervingmervin, by 3-1/2 lengths.
Hans also trains the Yall Beneath Me-Upside Blue Chip colt, who has banked nearly $40,000 in his career after also winning a Maryland Standardbred Race Fund event in his Aug. 4 debut.
John Wagner trainee Brooksforreal ($2.40) took top honours among two-year-old pacing colts and geldings, drawing 6-1/4 lengths clear of stablemate More Medhurst for a 1:58.1 score in his Maryland Sire Stakes split. Thomas K finished third. Corey Braden drove the Rustys For Real-Brooks Range gelding for owner Kelsey Wagner.
Rustys Lancelot ($2.20) and driver Eric Davis captured the other split with a 4-3/4-length, 1:59.2 win over Classic Cougar and Whosabrat. Jerry Nock trains the Rustys For Real-Majorconstellation gelding for owner/breeder Andrew Scheller.
In the $16,438 Open Handicap Pace, On The Cards N ($10.20) ground forward to his second consecutive win, striking the front on the far turn and evading a late bid from Bipbopnallie to prevail by a neck in 1:52.2. Ahle drove the nine-year-old Bettors Delight gelding, whom Willard Reynolds trains for Mark Howard, to his 33rd career victory.
Ahle and William Carter enjoyed driving triples on the night. Trae Porter and Jonathan Roberts both fashioned doubles.
Racing returns to Ocean Downs with a 12-race card on Wednesday, Aug. 21 featuring a trio of Maryland Sire Stakes preliminary events for two-year-old fillies and a Preferred Handicap Trot. First post is 7:05 p.m.
(Ocean Downs)