Sugar Instead continued her undefeated season by winning the $153,568 Ohio Breeders Championship for sophomore filly trotters in Monday, Sept. 16 action at the Delaware County Fair.
When the field of eight was sent on their way, Jurassic Hattie (Tyler Smith) was hustled out of post five and grabbed the early lead. Legacy Affair (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) took the lead past the opening quarter in :27.4. The field raced in a straight line past the quarter in :57.1. Brett Miller eased the eventual winner off the rail in third past the three-quarters in 1:26 and stuck a neck ahead at the top of the stretch. Sugar Instead used a :28 final quarter to secure the 1:54 win, which equalled the stakes record. Legacy Affair was second, three-quarters of a length back. Jurassic Hattie was third.
The daughter of Volstead is conditioned by Virgil Morgan Jr. for Joyce McClelland and Larry Wills. She was bred by Elmer Dean Miller. Sugar Instead is undefeated in 10 seasonal starts and has earned $837,537 lifetime.
Signature Series Final Goes Global
Global Girl went gate-to-wire and captured the $16,216 Signature Series final for aged trotters in 1:55.3.
The four-year-old Global Republic S mare lost her first seven starts of the year, but has now won seven straight races. She is owned by Sue Stockwell and was piloted by the Ohio Hall of Famer Don Irvine Jr.
Dontforgetmaster (Dan Noble) was a 1-1/4 lengths back in second and Lane Of Stone (Jeff Nisonger) was third.
Page Triples In Buckeye Stallion Series
The fifth leg of the Buckeye Stallion Series continued with four divisions each for the freshman filly and sophomore colt pacers. Each division boasted a purse of $27,027. Driver Chris Page scored three series wins while Eric Goodell won two.
Page scored his first Buckeye win in the second colt division with Downbythedanceclub in 1:52.2. The gelded son of Downbytheseaside got away in the middle of the pack as the field moved toward the :27.4 first quarter. Downbythedanceclub flushed cover passing the half in :56.1. After the 1:23.3 third quarter pole, Downbythedanceclub pulled three-wide to swoop the leader in his final strides. High On The Hill (Wrenn Jr.) finished second with Rainrock (Aaron Merriman) third.
Downbythedanceclub has won four of nine in his sophomore season. Ron Burke trains the winner for Burke Racing Stable, Beasty, Kitefield Stable, and J&T Silva - Purnel & Libby. Robert Key bred Downbythedanceclub.
Page scored again with Cheyenne Tuff in the third division of colts. The Well Said gelding got away fifth and stayed patient as the opening fractions came in a :26.4 and :55. Heading to the 1:23.4 three-quarters marker, Cheyenne Tuff followed cover. He was three-wide off the turn and marched for home. Cheyenne Tough tripped the wire in 1:52.1 to produce the fastest division of the day. Nocrynintheuber (Trevor Smith) was second and Fear The Image (Brett Miller) rounded out the trifecta.
The victory was the first series win for Cheyenne Tuff, who has hit the board 12 of 15 tries. Burke conditions for Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi. Cheyenee Tuff was bred by Ruth Altmeyer and Richard Kelson.
Page earned his third victory in an upset with 38-1 Moonlit Romance in the fourth division of filly pacers. The two-year-old daughter of Rodeo Romeo was urged first up after the :28. opening quarter. Moonlit Romance challenged the leader while passing the half in :58.1 and finally put a nose in front at the 1:27.2 three-quarters. Holding off a late charge from Anna Loves Bananas (Merriman), Moonlight Romance scored in 1:56. Anna Loves Bananas finished second with Seaside Wishes (Kayne Kauffman) third.
It was the second lifetime victory in six starts for the Steve Bauder-trained Moonlit Romance. Co-breeders Donald Robinson and Robert Mondillo own Moonlight Romance alongside Michael Dean Robinson.
At 7-1, Dancin Moon produced a mild upset in the first colt division. Goodell settled Dancin Moon into the middle of the pack as Threemargaritashot (Marc St. Louis Jr.) and Jds Zack Atack (Noble) battled to the :26.2 opening quarter. Dancin Moon was still gapped back to fourth as the field passed the half in :54. Goodell urged the Dancin Yankee gelding to follow cover while heading to the 1:24 three-quarters pole. Into the final turn, Dancin Moon pulled three-wide to win in 1:54.2. Jds Zack Atack held on for second while Rockntheroad (Miller) rallied for third.
Dancin Moon is conditioned by Herman Hagerman. Dancin Moon has won seven of 18 starts this season for Hagerman Racing, Charles Reeve and Melinda Hershberger. He was bred by Spring Haven Farm.
Goodell notched his second series win of the day with My Hare Legend in the third division of fillies. The daughter of Bit Of A Legend N led wire-to-wire, setting fractions in :28.2, :57.2 and 1:26.1. My Hare Legend opened up in the final turn to win by seven lengths in 1:54.3. Sunonmybuns (Page) finished second and Rose Run Aimee (Kauffman) was third.
My Hare Legend earned her third straight win (second in the series) from seven starts under the care of Logan Ebersole. My Hare Legend is owned by Ronald Rust and was bred by Schare Adams.
Legendary Noble took the final division of sophomore colt pacers in 1:52.3. After the dust settled, Legendary Noble made his move for the front at the :28 opening quarter. Guided by Dan Noble, the gelded son of Bit Of A Legend N set remaining fractions in :57.1 and 1:25 before stopping the clock in front. Twenty Five (Page) was second while Attention Span (Brady Galliers) finished third.
Legendary Noble has hit the board 14 of 18 tries this season. He is trained by Christi Noble for Norman Rae Racing. Legendary Noble was bred by Carol Jean Noble.
Guard The Fire set a new lifetime mark of 1:54.2 in the second division of fillies. The daughter of Catch The Fire cleared the front and never looked back. Guided by Cameron McCown, Guard The Fire set fractions in :27.2, :56.3 and 1:26.1 before cruising across the wire with five lengths to spare. Judge Me Again (Merriman) finished second and Princess Di (Miller) was third.
Guard The Fire has won three of her seven lifetime starts under trainer Brian Brown;s care. All victories have been scored in the Buckeye Stallion Series. Guard The Fire is owned by Hutchison Harness and was bred by CT Stables.
The first division of filly pacers was declared no contest after an accident occurred directly out of the gate. No horses or drivers were injured.
(Little Brown Jug and Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association)