Sophomore filly pacers put on a show for the fourth leg of the Buckeye Stallion Series at MGM Northfield Park on Monday, Aug. 19. Favourites did not prevail in either of the two $27,397 divisions.
At 24-1, Lady Bridgerton was an upset winner in the first division in 1:55.4. Leaving from the trailing ninth post position, Lady Bridgerton got away sixth. Driver Kayne Kauffman stayed patient along the rail as the opening quarter came in a brisk :27. Kauffman urged the daughter of Bit Of A Legend N to follow cover while passing the half in :55.4. Lady Bridgerton took advantage of the fast fractions and pulled three-wide before the 1:25 three-quarter marker. Lady Bridgerton dug in through her final strides to win by half a length over Im Fancy Like (Luke Ebersole) and favourite Beautiful Lather (Aaron Merriman).
Brian Georges conditions Lady Bridgerton for Kent Walker, Travis Kelley, Benjamin Jamison and Curt Carey. The filly has won half of her 14 seasonal starts, adding $61,055 to her bankroll.
Calypso Pearl and Dan Noble took the second division in 1:53.1. The daughter of Fear The Dragon left alertly from the second post position to grab the lead. At 9-2 odds, the third betting choice held off challengers to set fractions in :27, :55.4 and 1:23.4 and won by 1-3/4 lengths. Flyin Bullets (Merriman) finished second and favourite Gone Coastal (Billy Davis Jr.) was third.
Although this Christi Noble trainee was not started as a freshman, she has now hit the board 11 of 13 tries this season. With four victories, Calypso Pearl has bankrolled $94,352 for owner/breeder Sandra Burnett.
Buckeye Stallion Series action continues on Sunday, Aug. 25 at Northfield Park with sophomore filly trotters.
(With files from Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association)