Fear Of Sports continued her domination of the Ohio Sires Stakes two-year-old filly pacing division, winning again on Tuesday night (Sept. 6) at MGM Northfield Park as she tied a track and world record.
In the second of two $55,000 divisions, Seaside Tina and Trevor Smith went to the lead, covering the quarter in :26.3 and the half in :56.1. Fear Of Sports, the 1-5 favourite with Tyler Smith driving, made her move on the backstretch, reeling in the leader at the three-quarter pole in 1:24. Fear Of Sports opened up around the final turn, but had to fight off a late-charging Cruise Alert and Ronnie Wrenn Jr. to win by three-quarters of a length in the record-tying time of 1:51.2. Cruise Alert finished second with McSeaside and Chris Page third.
The time of the mile equalled the world record for two-year-old pacing fillies on a half-mile track that was set by Sea Silk last September at Northfield.
The win was the fourth in a row for the homebred daughter of Fear The Dragon-Sportin The Gold and fifth in seven starts. She has now earned $129,125 for trainer Kelly O’Donnell and owner Emerald Highland Farms.
In the first division, More The Merrier and Aaron Merriman went to the lead and never looked back, winning in 1:52.2.
More The Merrier, the 4-5 favourite set fractions of :28.1, :57.2 and 1:25.1, winning easily by two lengths in a new lifetime mark. Stormy Serena and Tyler Smith finished second while Windydayatthebeach and Ronnie Wrenn Jr. were third.
The Western Vintage-Dark Fiber filly is trained by Bucky Troute and owned by September L Six. The win was the fourth for More The Merrier in eight starts. It was her first win in Sires Stakes action. She has now earned $46,911.
Ohio Sires Stakes action continues Thursday, Sept. 8 at Eldorado Scioto Downs. First race post time is 3:15 p.m.
(With files from Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association)