$95,000 Maryland Sire Stakes finals run and won

Berlin, MD – The spotlight was bright and the harness racing performances even brighter on Wednesday evening as the Maryland Sire Stakes Finals took center stage at Ocean Downs, awarding $95,000 in each of four divisions for three-year-old trotters and pacers. With championship glory and bragging rights on the line, four winners left no doubt they were Maryland’s finest in their class.

The night opened with a commanding performance by Yall Keep Dreaming, who went three for three in the 3-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Trot division. Driven confidently by Johnathan Ahle for trainer and breeder Richard Hans, the son of Yall Beneath Me never faced a challenge, rolling through fractions of 28.1, 56.1, and 1:24.4 before coasting home in 1:55.0, 18 lengths in front. Roan Ridge and Swervingmervin followed distantly, but the trotting crown was sealed long before the wire. 

In one of the most thrilling surprises of the night, Playin For Real delivered a 26-1 upset in the 3-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Pace Final. The gelded son of Rusty’s For Real stalked patiently before taking control in the final turn and holding off a late surge by Don’t Say Maybe to score in 1:55.2 for driver William Carter and trainer Jason Walters.

Rusty’s Lancelot finished a solid third, while favored Brooksforreal and Thomas K faded late after early involvement. The victory was the biggest of Playin For Real’s young career and one that turned heads across the Ocean Downs apron.

On the trotting side for fillies, K J The Thirteenth was every bit the professional she’s been all season. With Fern Paquet Jr. at the lines for Scott Warnick, the Il Mago filly seized the lead early and never wavered, posting fractions of 28.3, 59.0, and 1:28.4 before trotting home in 1:59.1, holding Y’all Know Me and Yall Just Love Me safely at bay. The win earned K J The Thirteenth a sweep of both preliminary legs and the final—a true testament to consistency and class.

The night concluded with a masterclass from the division queen herself, Ragtime Red, who delivered a dominant performance in the 3-Year-Old Filly Pace Final, capturing her third straight stakes win in 1:55.0. Driven by Allan Davis and trained by Donald Brittingham, the Getitoffyourchest filly went wire-to-wire, gliding through fractions of 27.4, 57.1, and 1:26.0 before kicking clear with a 29.0 final quarter to win by nearly six lengths. Post Jolene and Toys Little Tinker followed gamely but were never a threat to the overwhelming favorite.

From start to finish, the 2025 Maryland Sire Stakes series showcased the best of Maryland-bred Standardbred talent—from flawless campaigns to breakout performances. Wednesday’s finals at Ocean Downs capped a summer of unforgettable miles, standout connections, and bright futures ahead for these young stars.

Stakes action returns on July 28 and July 30 for the two-year olds in the MD Race Fund.

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

From Ocean Downs