Buckeye Stallion Series double for The Stable

Grove City, Ohio – Favorites swept the fourth harness racing leg of the Buckeye Stallion Series for two-year-old filly trotters on Tuesday (Sept. 3) at MGM Northfield Park. Dou Anthony Macdonald and Jason McGinnis won two of the four $20,000 divisions.

Aunt Lilly (Uncle Peter) produced the fastest division in 1:57.3. Guided by Macdonald, 1-5 Aunt Lilly let the dust settle for only a moment before popping the pocket while headed to the :29.3 opening quarter.

The daughter of Uncle Peter easily gained control and never looked back. Aunt Lilly set remaining fractions in :59.1 and 1:28.4 before winning with four lengths to spare.

Wild As You (Aaron Merriman) finished second and Dublins Martini (Ronnie Gillespie) was third.

Aunt Lilly has hit the board in each of her seven lifetime starts. The series victory was Aunt Lilly’s first since her win in the $150,000 Next Generation hosted by Eldorado Scioto Downs.  She has bankrolled $116,440 under McGinnis. Aunt Lilly is owned by Thestable Aunt Lilly Grp and Hutchison Harness.

AUNT LILLY REPLAY

Freedom Hill (What The Hill) gave Macdonald and McGinnis their second series win of the night in the fourth division. The filly left alertly from the second post position. Multiple miscues scattered the field in the first turn, but 1-2 Freedom Hill marched on to set fractions in :29.4, 1:01.2, and 1:31. Pulling away, Freedom Hill won by four lengths in 2:00.1.

FREEDOM HILL REPLAY

Little Miss Jo (Jason Thompson) was second while Mia Sangria (Merriman) finished third.

The victory marks the first series win for Freedom Hill. She has earned $49,833 in seven starts for Thestable Freedom Hill and Hutchison Harness.

Countonluna (Full Count) scored her third BSS win in the first division. The filly made certain she was on top directly out of the gate. Trained and driven by Daren Harvey, 9-5 Countonluna was all business as she set fractions in :29.3, 1:00.1, and 1:30.1. Holding off challengers, she stopped the clock in 1:59.3.

Wild Child Annie (Hunter Myers) held on for second with Iwillmakeyouproud As (Austin Hanners) in third.

Countonluna has won five of her six lifetime starts, earning $42,261. Her lone second-place finish came in a previous leg of the Buckeye Stallion Series. Harvey co-owns alongside Eric Hershberger.

Sienna Sunrise (Enterprise) set a new lifetime mark of 1:58.3 in the second division. At 4-5 Sienna Sunrise and Myers refused to set in a pocket beyond the :29.3 opening quarter. Once on top, she marched to the half in :59.2. With no challengers at the 1:28.4 three-quarters pole, Sienna Sunrise confidently won by two lengths.

SIENNA SUNRISE REPLAY

Annie L (Hank LeVan) rallied for second and Mona Lisa Hill (Chris Lems) finished third.

Michael Lee trains Sienna Sunrise. With $39,842 in the bank, she has hit the board six of seven lifetime starts. Lee co-owns alongside James Beluscak, Robert Carson, and Jill Dentel.

Buckeye Stallion Series action continues with freshmen colt pacers on Wednesday (Sept.4) at MGM Northfield Park.

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

by Ashley Dailey, for the OHHA