It’s another romp in Maryland Sire Stakes

BERLIN, Md. — Kasey Bendix and Virginia Marvel’s homebred Fancy Like That (Rusty’s For Real-Scootin Woody) delivered another devastating harness racing blow to her Maryland Sire Stakes competition on Wednesday (July 17) at Ocean Downs, beating Covid For Real by 11-1/4 lengths in 1:55.3 in a $10,000 second-round preliminary for 3-year-old pacing fillies.

The filly coasted through a :58.2 first half on an uncontested lead in line to Johnathan Ahle before using back-to-back :28.3 second lap splits to steadily edge clear from pocket rival Covid For Real. Yourgracefound Me finished third.

Bendix trains Fancy Like that, whose 15th career win pushed her earnings to $151,290. She paid $2.10 to win.

Only I Exist (Yall Beneath Me-Get Rich Quick) won the non-wagering $10,000 Maryland Sire Stakes for 3-year-old trotting fillies, defeating Emily’s Locket by 21-1/2 lengths in 2:00.1. Russell Foster drove the Richard Hans homebred filly, who now has earned $214,881, to her 11th career win.

A pair of second-round Tom Cooke Memorial divisions were conducted off the card as well, with Casino Magic (2:08.1, Roger Plante Jr.) and Chex Check (2:05, Trae Porter) winning their respective $8,500 splits of the event for 2-year-old trotters.

In the $12,000 Open 1 Handicap Trot, Coventry Hall (Cash Hall, $4.80) sprinted clear from post four to control fractions of :28.1, :57.2 and 1:25.4 before steadily edging away from his seven rivals for a five-length, 1:55.2 score over Judge Bob and Along In Time. Trae Porter drove the victorious 7-year-old gelding for trainer Michael Hall and owners William and Sarah MacMillan.

The $12,000 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap Pace saw Square Deal (Heston Blue Chip, $6.40) and driver Tony Morgan sustain a sixth-to-first brush to overtake early pacesetter Jody at the bell before evading her by two lengths to win in 1:52.3. Got The Gold finished third. Willard Reynolds trains the 4-year-old mare for owner Mark Howard.

Ahle and Porter led all drivers with three wins apiece.

Live racing returns to Ocean Downs on Thursday, with a 12-race program featuring four divisions of the Diane “Mum” Stevenson Memorial claiming series. First post is 7:05 p.m.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

From Ocean Downs