Maryland-sired rookies square off

On a beautiful night at Ocean Downs the first prelims for the two-year-old Maryland sired harness racing colt and gelding trotters and filly pacers went to post.

The lone $10,000 division for the colt and gelding trotters opened the card with favorite How Do You Goo (Googoo Gaagaa) going gate to wire, holding off a pesky Sultan Of Sultans (Lockkeeper) by a neck in the 2:00.3 mile. How Do You Goo is owned, bred and trained by Richard Hans, Russell Foster was between the wheels.

Three $10,000 divisions for the freshman filly pacers went as races 3, 5 and 6.

Val’s Girl (Rusty’s For Real) remains undefeated, picking up the fifth win in her young career. Driver Roger Plante Jr. sent Val right to the front, controlling every fraction, striding away in the two-length win over HS Josie (Rusty’s For Real) stopping the clock in 1:58.4. Val’s Girl is trained by Steve LeBlanc for LeBlanc Racing Inc., William Lutz Jr. and Count De Money Stable and was bred by Tom and Linda Winebrener.

In the second split for the fillies, favorite Lloyd’s Loves (Rusty’s All In) made a slight break leaving the gate, got parked to the quarter and then said goodbye to the rest of the field in her 6 ¼ length win in 1:59.4 on the half mile oval. John Wagner drives and trains Lloyd’s Loves for owner-breeder Pam Wagner. Covid Can’t Stop Me (Rusty’s For Real) was second.

Reinsman John Wagner picked up his second stakes win of the card behind Morgan’s All In (Rusty’s All In) leaving from post six to cut the 1:59.3 mile. Joyces Real Honey (Rusty’s For Real) came from forth at the half to take the place ticket. Wagner once again trains the winner for owner-breeder Pam Wagner.

The first round of sire stakes prelims continues on Wednesday Aug. 17^th with two splits each for trotting fillies and pacing colts and geldings.

For complete race results, click here.

by Cheri Stambaugh, for the Maryland Standardbred Fund