Ohio-sired horses battle in BSS consolations

Northfield, OH — MGM Northfield Park hosted the Buckeye Stallion Series Consolations on Saturday (October 7). Harness racing horses competed all season long across the Buckeye State to compete in each of the $25,000 events.

Trainer Christopher Beaver wasted no time getting on the board Saturday, with all three of his stars taking win, place, and show in the 2-year-old filly trotting consolation. Kaminari (What The Hill-Red Storm, Aaron Merriman) made the front quickly into the first turn as Mike Wilder took back with Phyllis L and the other Hank Le Van trainee Instant Fortune L, making a break to her inside.

With the field in straight alignment up the backstretch, Kaminari led to the opening quarter in :30.2, with Osaka Hall (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) right on her back in second. There was little movement in the middle quarter, as Kaminari led the field past the half in 1:01.3.

Race favorite Maxine’s Hill (Chris Page) tipped to the outside with three-eighths of a mile to trot and began her bid. Still, Kaminari kicked clear to a two-length lead at three-quarters in 1:31.2. Turning for home, Wrenn pointed Osaka Hall to the passing lane but ran out of racetrack as Kaminari dug in to win by a neck in 2:01.3.

Owned by Sandra Burnett and trainer Christopher Beaver, the talented filly pushed her earnings to $43,656.

There were fireworks in the 2-year-old pacing fillies division as Lady Bridgerton (Bit Of A Legend N-Rose Run Vanity, Chris Page) gunned down favorite I’m A Beach Lady (Mike Wilder) in the shadow of the wire.

It was clear early I’m A Beach Lady wanted the lead, and she rocketed off the wings and quickly opened up a four-length lead at the quarter in :28.1. Wilder was finally able to get his filly under control coming to the half, getting a big breather, stopping the clock in :58.4.

Turning into the backstretch, I’m Fancy Like (Anthony MacDonald) began a first-over bid to tackle the leaders, but she began to stagger around the final turn.

Wilder began to call on I’m A Beach Lady for everything she had turning for home, but Page got the perfect trip with Lady Bridgerton and got up, winning by a neck in 1:56.4.

It was the fourth victory of the year for Lady Bridgerton, which is owned by Hagerman Racing, Martin Yoder, and Daniel Schrock. The filly pushed her earnings to $45,578 with the win.

The freshman trotting colts were up next, with Mr WWC (Long Tom-Anniesbluejeanbaby) scoring an upset over heavy favorite Sir Maverick (Wrenn Jr.).

Mr WWC (Elliot Deaton) was sent to the front entering the first turn, as Runs The Wind (Kurt Sugg) fired off the wings from post eight. Sugg elected to sit the two hole, moving into the backstretch for the first time as Mr WWC got to the quarter in :28.4

Mr WWC’s lead was short-lived, however, as Sir Maverick began a bid heading into the far turn for the first time, clearing before a half in :58.4. Sir Maverick got even more of a breather in the third quarter, stopping the timer in 1:29.1.

Moving into the final turn, Deaton sent Mr WWC to the outside, the leaders would tussle through the stretch, but Sir Maverick began racing greenly, and Mr WWC was able to work past him, winning by a half-length in 2:00.1.

Trained by Wes Hershberger and owned by Callam Racing LLC, Mr WWC increased his earnings to $31,953.

The Steve Carter trainees took advantage of favorite Up The Thrill (Tony Hall) never making the gate before the start, finishing one-two in the Buckeye Stallion Series Consolation for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings.

As the field fanned out into the first turn, Bronx Drifter (Yankee Cruiser-Pacal’s Wager, Austin Hanners) did anything but that as he defended the pylon position around the first turn. The Carter duo got to the quarter in :28; while they had created some separation, Abitofbettorsbuns (Wrenn Jr.) was hot on their heels, entering the far turn for the first time.

There weren’t many challengers coming to the half in :58.2, but as the field went under the finish line for the first time, Cheyenne Tuff (Mike Wilder) was sent first over to take his shot at the leaders.

Cheyenne Tuff got within three-quarters of a length of the leader at three-quarters in 1:27.4, but when Hanners asked Bronx Drifter for more, he responded kicking clear through the stretch to win by 3-1/4 lengths in 1:57.

Owned by Peggy Carter and Sheila Hummel, it was his fourth victory in six starts, pushing his earnings to $51,656.

Team TheStable.ca got on the board next as Coupe Deville (Uncle Peter, MacDonald) got anything but a perfect trip but still managed to score a victory in the Buckeye Stallion Series Consolation for 3-year-old trotting fillies.

Rose Run Yancee (Chris Lems), Bee Stormin (Wilder), and Victoria Leigh (Sugg) all left bravely down the center of the track as the starter said go. As they worked themselves out into the backstretch, Lems was able to clear his two rivals, getting to the quarter in :29.1.

Rose Run Yancee worked out a second-quarter breather, but O U Stacey (Page) was having none of it as she marched up to challenge the leader past the quarter in 1:01. O U Stacey continued to apply pressure past three-quarters in 1:31, but the off-track took its toll on the leaders as Coupe Deville stormed off cover three-wide and motored past the field to win by 2-3/4 lengths in 2:01.1.

The filly continues to creep toward the $100,00 mark as she pushes her earnings to $97,801.

Trainer Steve Carter scored another Buckeye Stallion Series Consolation victory with 3-year-old pacing filly Somwherunderheavn (Nob Hill High, Tony Hall).

The Ohio Breeders Championship winner had a challenging path to victory, however. Leaving alertly over a sloppy track, the filly was caught three-wide around the first turn and then was stung to a solid opening quarter of :28.

Once Somwherunderheavn made the lead though, she wouldn’t give it up. Putting up fractions of :57.2 and 1:25.4 she fended off all challengers and drew off in the stretch to win by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:55.

Owned by Jeff Fought Racing, Brian Carsey, Adam Friedland, and Peggy Carter, the filly has now earned $131,265.

Republic Return (Global Republic S, Wrenn Jr.) earned his fourth victory of the year on Saturday in the Buckeye Stallion Series Consolation for 3-year-old colt and gelding trotters.

Stumpy (Lems) tried to defend the pylon position. Still, Republic Return would have none of it clearing the leader past the quarter in :29.3. Stumpy was not content sitting in the pocket, so Lems sent him back to the outside and cleared before turning into the stretch for the first time.

Stumpy led the field past the half in 1:00, and braced for the challenge of Muscle On (Mike Wilder), who was grinding away first over. As the field past three-quarters in 1:29.4, Stumpy put away Muscle On, but it was clear Republic Return had something left as he was chomping at the bit for the passing lane, turning for home.

Though the stretch, Republic Return worked his way past Stumpy to win by a length in 2:00. It was the 17th career victory for Republic Return who trainer Rosy Weaver and the Heartland Acres Inc own. She now has career earnings of $130,996.

Trainer Joe Lucas scored his second victory of the program in the final Buckeye Stallion Series Consolation for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings.

Colin Your Bluff (Deaton) stretched out Tan Man (Chris Page) for the lead but finally allowed him to clear, and the field entered the backstretch. The field was in straight alignment coming to the quarter in 31.3.

While Colin Your Bluff looked leg weary through the stretch, he dug deep when the money was down to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:54.3.

Owned by trainer Joe Lucas, it was the fifth career victory for Colin Your Bluff, who now has earned $75,069.

Live racing resumes on Sunday (October 8) evening at 6:00 p.m. MGM Northfield Park currently races on Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. For more information on live racing and promotions, visit www.northfieldpark.com.

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

by Michael Carter, for MGM Northfield Park