At long odds of 56-1, Midnight Nolan stormed home to take one of two $27,027 divisions of the Buckeye Stallion Series for three-year-old filly trotters on Sunday, Aug. 25 at MGM Northfield Park.
Leaving from an outside post position, Midnight Nolan got away seventh. Driver Luke Ebersole raced the filly from the back of the pack as the opening quarter came in a :27.4. Ebersole urged the daughter of Uncle Peter to follow cover third-over while passing the half in :58. Midnight Nolan still sat sixth at the 1:26.3 three-quarters marker and faced a wall of traffic at the top of the stretch. Sneaking through, Midnight Nolan dug in to win by a half-length in 1:57.4. Champa Bay Hall (Austin Hanners) also closed from the back for second with popular pacesetter Tammie Sue (Elliott Deaton) hanging on for third.
The victory marks the first of the season in nine starts for Midnight Nolan, who is just shy of $70,000 in lifetime earnings. Dan Walski conditions the filly for Walski Stables.
Uncle Petes Dream and Deaton took the other division in 1:57.1. After getting away third, the Uncle Peter filly let the dust settle before taking control of the field past the :28.3 opening quarter. Once on top, she held off challengers to set remaining fractions in :58.1 and 1:27.4. As the 8-5 favourite, Uncle Petes Dream tripped the wire with more than two lengths to spare. Lady Almas (Hanners) was second while Alittlepixiedust (Kurt Sugg) finished third.
Despite a slow start her freshman year, Uncle Petes Dream has now hit the board 12 of 15 tries this season. With six victories on the campaign, the filly has lifted her lifetime earnings over $80,000 for owner Matt Rowe. Debroah Swartz conditions Uncle Petes Dream.
Buckeye Stallion Series action continues with sophomore colt pacers on Friday, Aug. 30 at Eldorado Scioto Downs.
(With files from Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association)