After grinding to the fore, Brutus Bayama outlasted a sustained push from Make Some Waves to win the $23,500 final of the Diane "Mum" Stevenson Memorial, for claiming pacers, on Thursday, Aug. 8 at Ocean Downs.
Brutus Bayama was rated in midfield by Johnathan Ahle behind a :27.2 first-quarter duel that saw Candys Image Rocks (driven by Jonathan Roberts) and Hundie N (Eric Davis) dispute the lead. Ahle moved Brutus Bayama off the pegs with five-eighths to go, and the seven-year-old Betterthancheddar gelding ground to the lead with just under three-eighths remaining. Shortly after he cleared a tiring Candys Image Rocks, he faced immediate pressure from Make Some Waves (Jason Thompson), and the two sparred past three-quarters in 1:26.2 and through the far turn. Despite the tough journey, Brutus Bayama held firm in the stretch, repelling Make Some Waves by a half length in 1:55.2. Bet On Buter (Tony Morgan) emerged out of traffic to save third as the 8-5 favourite.
Joe Hundertpfund Jr. trains Brutus Bayama, a 12-time winner who returned $7.00 as the 5-2 second choice, for Sartin Racing and Richard Ashley.
The series was named for Diane "Mum" Stevenson, who died in 2023 after enjoying a six-decade career in harness racing as a chart caller and program editor.
Ahle won four races on the 11-race card.
Live racing returns to Ocean Downs on Sunday, Aug. 11; first post is 7:05 p.m.
(Ocean Downs)