The Maryland Standardbred Fund Stakes headlined the Monday, Aug. 3 racing action at Ocean Downs as freshman pacing and trotting colts and geldings competed in three divisions, producing a pair of exciting pacing upsets and a dominant performance from an impressive young trotter.
The opening $39,437 division for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings belonged to Fast Pass, who rallied from the back of the pack to upset a talented field at odds of 26-1.
Driven patiently by Anthony Morgan, the son of Badlands Hanover-Free Admission trailed through the early stages while Finest Hours (Russell Foster), the heavy 2-5 favourite, set took over the lead after a :28.1 quarter and set middle splits of :58.1 and 1:26.3. As the field turned for home, Morgan angled Fast Pass to the outside and the colt responded with an explosive late kick, pacing his final quarter in :29.1 to sweep past the leaders and score by three lengths in 1:57.1. Early leader Free Shot (Jonathan Roberts) finished second while longshot Hes Got Talent (Eric Davis) closed for third.
Fast Pass, who broke his maiden in his second career outing, was a $21,127 yearling purchase in the fall of 2025 at the Standardbred Horse Sale for trainer Michael Kimelman and co-owner Joseph Costable of White Plains, New York.
The second pacing division produced the closest finish of the stakes events as Cash Is Better withstood a determined late challenge from Shootout to capture the $39,789 split by a half-length.
Corey Braden put the son of More The Better N-R B G on the lead by the quarter and controlled the pace through fractions of :28.4, :58.4 and 1:27.4. Roger Plante Jr. guided Shootout on the attack around the final turn, drawing within a head in deep stretch, but the 4-5 favourite Cash Is Better refused to surrender and held on in 1:56.2. Shootout finished a strong second after a first-over rally, while Noparkingaftadark (Fern Paquet Jr.) completed the trifecta.
Cash Is Better remained undefeated in two starts and the stakes victory gave trainer-owner-breeder Courtney Brooks an especially satisfying homebred triumph.
The richest event of the evening, a $75,211 division for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings, showcased an impressive performance from heavy favourite Mike Franks.
Sent directly to the front by Ross Wolfenden, the son of Southwind Frank-Hearditinaluvsong never faced a serious threat. After carving out measured fractions of :30.2, 1:03 and 1:33.2, Mike Franks opened daylight turning for home and won decisively by 6-1/2 lengths in 2:02.4. The Deshawn Sample trainee finished with a sharp :29.2 final quarter to remain comfortably clear of the field.
Bleu Royale (Dylan Huckabone-Miller) finished second and Celebrity Tequila (Bobby Crivokapich Jr.) was third.
Owned and bred by Michial and Linda English of Federalsburg, Maryland, Mike Franks delivered one of the most visually impressive performances of the evening as he earned his first career win in his third start.
Maryland Standardbred Fund action continues on Wednesday when the two-year-old fillies hit the track with pacers competing in three divisions and trotters in one division. First post is 6:40 p.m.
(With files from Maryland Standardbred Fund; photo of Mike Franks winning on Aug. 3)