Maryland fillies shine in Sire Stakes prelims

Phoenix Rising (Movie Idol), a late blooming harness racing star in the Frank Gannon barn, proved that her upset win Monday night June 26^th at Ocean Downs was no fluke as she bested rival Val’s Girl by a nose in the MD Sires Stakes three year old pacing filly preliminary held at the vacation land oval.

Trained and co-owned by Frank Gannon, along with Elizabeth Gannon, regular pilot Frank Milby sat a patient two hole behind the 2022 Horse of the Year, Val’s Girl (Rusty’s For Real), and used the passing lane to just get up at the finish.

Timed in 1:56.4, it was Phoenix Rising’s fifth win this year in ten starts, pushing her seasonal earnings over $64,000. In the $85 K final held last month at Rosecroft, “Phoenix’ beat “Val”at the wire as well.

Pheonix Rising returned $15.40 for a $2.00 mutuel.

Two other preliminaries were held Monday night-with the first division of the three year old pacing fillies going to HS Josie (Rusty’s For Real) in 1:57.1 for owner Cary Grady of Southern Pines, NC and trainer Joe Carroll. She returned $4.00 as the even money favorite.

And in the preliminary for the three year old trotting colts and geldings, How Doo Yoo Goo (Googoo Gaagaa), won in wire to wire fashion posting a 1:59.3 triumph. Russ Foster drove the winner for owner –trainer Richard Hans of Westminster, MD. He paid $4.40 for the win.

After a week off, these three-year-olds return to Ocean Downs on Monday, July 10.

For complete race results, click here.

From the Maryland Standardbred Race Fund