Ragtime Red completed a sweep of both her preliminary Maryland Sire Stakes events with a 1:58.1 win in her $13,699 division for two-year-old pacing fillies on Wednesday, Aug. 21 at Ocean Downs. The other first-round winners, pacer Lus Darling and trotter K J The Thirteenth, posted repeat victories as well in their respective events.
With Baby Doll Jordyn and Pawny breaking stride at the start, Ragtime Red and driver Trae Porter had an easy time crossing over from post six to secure the early lead over Mygirlmia, who closed off the pocket from the pole. Ragtime Red clicked through splits of :29.1, :59.2 and 1:29.2 before accelerating off the home turn to defeat Mygirlmia by 4-1/2 lengths. Pams For Real was third. Michael Hall trains Ragtime Red, a Getitoffyourchest-Red High Heels filly with two wins and four second-place finishes in eight starts, for owner/breeder David Banks. As the prohibitive 1-20 favourite, she paid $2.10 to win.
Jerry Nock's homebred Rustys For Real-Southern Lulu filly, Lus Darling ($2.60), won the other split for rookie pacing fillies, rating soft splits of :29.2, 1:00.1 and 1:31.1 in line to Eric Davis before evading late pursuit from Post Jolene by three-quarters of a length in 2:00.2. Post Jolene was demoted to third after interfering with third-place finisher Toys Little Tinker, who was elevated to second, off the turn for home. Lus Darling has now won three of her nine starts.
In the lone event for two-year-old trotting fillies, K J The Thirteenth ($2.80) and trainer/driver John Wagner strolled through fractions of :31, 1:03.1 and 1:34.2 before opening a four-length lead at the end of a 2:04.2 mile. Yall Know Me rallied to narrowly collar Casino Magic for second. Kelsey Wagner and Scott Woogen own the victorious Il Mago-My Kid Sister filly, who is now two-for-six.
Porter and Johnathan Ahle drove three winners apiece on the 12-race card while Russell Foster notched a double.
Live harness racing returns to Ocean Downs on Thursday, Aug. 22. First post is 7:05 p.m.
(With files from Ocean Downs)