While four different juveniles left Ocean Downs as Maryland Sire Stakes champions on Sunday, Sept. 6, the performance of the night belonged to Nobody Knows It, who simply overwhelmed her rivals in the $138,889 filly trot final with a track-record performance to remain undefeated.
There was little suspense once the wings of the starting gate folded. Sent off as the 1-9 favourite, Nobody Knows It and driver Corey Callahan blasted immediately to the front. The daughter of Betting Gangster S-Goo Luck Charm opened an eight-length advantage at the quarter in :28.4 and continued to control the race through fractions of :57.4 and 1:27.
Nobody Knows It entered the stretch five lengths clear and then poured it on, trotting home in :29 to stop the clock in 1:56, winning by 9-1/2 lengths over stablemate Thats It For You (Russell Foster). Arent I Pretty (Tony Morgan) was third.
The 1:56 performance broke Nobody Knows It's own Maryland Sire Stakes and Ocean Downs track record, adding another achievement to an already remarkable freshman campaign. She had previously established the standard of 1:56.2 on Aug. 19, only to return on championship night and lower her own mark while moving to five-for-five lifetime.
The fractions underscored just how dominant the performance was. Nobody Knows It trotted quarters of :28.4, :29, :29.1 and :29, carrying her speed throughout the race over the half-mile oval.
Richard Hans trains, owns and bred Nobody Knows It, who has earned $127,780. The win price was $2.10.
In The Worst Way Springs The Night’s First Upset
The card, which featured Maryland’s top two-year-old trotters and pacers contesting four $138,889 Maryland Sire Stakes Finals, began with an upset in the male trot event.
The heavily favoured Wings Of Warning (Steve Smith), sent away at 2-5, made an early break from post two and was never a factor, opening the door for the remainder of the field. Lil Gerald (Russell Foster) established the early tempo, taking the field through the opening quarter in :30.1 and the half in 1:01.3. My Mago (Jared Moyer) moved to the front approaching three-quarters, reaching that station in 1:32.3.
Meanwhile, In The Worst Way had remained within striking distance for driver Corey Braden. Fourth and 4-1/4 lengths from the lead at three-quarters, the son of Il Mago-Greatestofease began closing in on the leaders before taking command in the stretch. He finished strongly to score by three lengths in 2:03.1. Docs Mago (Tony Morgan) rallied for second, while My Mago held third.
In The Worst Way broke his maiden in his fourth start and raised his bankroll to $74,872. Herman Hagerman trains the gelding for Hagerman Racing. Sent off at odds of 9-1, In The Worst Way returned $20.60 to win.
Sweet Cougar Pounces In Filly Pace
Another upset followed in the final for pacing fillies, in which Sweet Cougar turned a well-timed first-over move into the first victory of her young career.
With Roger Plante Jr. in the bike, Sweet Cougar settled fourth during the early stages as R U Kidding (Jared Moyer) and favourite All That Rusty (Tony Morgan) battled for position to a :28.3 quarter. All That Rusty took control before the midway point and led through a half of :59.1.
Plante then put Sweet Cougar into motion. The daughter of Cougar Hall-Classic Mosee advanced first-over and was alongside the leader at three-quarters in 1:29.2. By the head of the stretch, Sweet Cougar had taken command. From there, she drew away to win by 2-3/4 lengths in 1:59.2, pacing her final quarter in :30. If I Win Uwin (Brandon Givens) finished second, with 29-1 outsider Dapper Dudette (William Carter) completing the triactor.
Joseph Offutt trains Sweet Cougar and owns and bred her in partnership with Karen Offutt. The filly took her first win in five tries and increased her earnings to $73,251. Sweet Cougar rewarded her backers with a $14.20 win payoff.
Shootout Gives Plante A Sire Stakes Double
Plante wasn't finished. He returned later in the evening and completed a Maryland Sire Stakes driving double aboard Shootout in the final for male pacers.
Unlike his come-from-behind trip with Sweet Cougar, Plante wasted no time putting Shootout on the engine. The son of Wearinmysixshooter-The New Americana left from post five and secured the lead before completing the opening quarter in :27.4. Plante was then able to give his colt a breather through a :30.3 second panel, reaching the half in :58.2.
Shootout remained in command through three-quarters in 1:28 while race favourite Cash Is Better (Corey Braden) tracked him closely from the pocket. The showdown developed exactly as expected through the final turn as Cash Is Better remained within striking distance, but Shootout had enough left. Plante asked his colt for more in the stretch, and Shootout responded with a :28.2 final quarter to turn back Cash Is Better by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:56.2. Longshot Hes Got Talent (Eric Davis) finished third.
Steve Le Blanc trains Shootout for owners Glenn Dyke, Leblanc Racing Inc. and James Stuart. Dyke also bred the colt, who is now five-for-seven lifetime with $111,144 earned. Shootout, sent off as the 6-5 second choice, returned $4.60.
The Maryland Sire Stakes will now take the estimated 138-mile trip across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge to Exit 4a off the beltway to Rosecroft Raceway, where action will occur for all divisions. Preliminary legs will be raced on Sept. 21, 24, 28, and Oct. 1 leading up to Showcase of Champions Night on Sunday, Oct. 11, when $800,000 USD in purse money will be up for grabs.
(MSRF; photo of Nobody Knows It winning on Sept. 6)