Four $85,000 finals held at Ocean Downs

The rivalries in the Maryland Sire Stakes between Call Me Goo (Googoo Gaagaa) and Goolishness (Googoo Gaagaa) in the filly trot and Val’s Girl (Rusty’s For Real) and Phoenix Rising (Movie Idol) in the filly pace continued on Wednesday July 19^th, as Ocean Downs hosted the Summer Showcase for the sophomore Maryland Sire Stakes with each harness racing final going for a purse of $85,000.

In the first Maryland Sire Stake, going as race six, reinsman Jonathan Roberts tucked Call Me Goo in the pocket behind Goolishness tipping out at the head of the stretch to stop the clock ¾ of a length ahead in the 1:59.2 mile. Call Me Goo boosted her stats to 10 wins in 14 starts and her earnings to over $174,00. Jason Skinner trains for owner Graham Grace Stables LLC., breeder is Wm. Bib Roberts.

Race seven brought the filly pacers behind the gate. Val’s Girl with Roger Plante Jr. between the wheels went wire to wire with rival Phoenix Rising getting the pocket trip with only a head separating them at the wire.

Val’s Girl prevailed raising her lifetime earning to over $195,000 and 14 wins in 16 starts for owners LeBlanc Racing Inc. William Lutz, Jr. and Count De Money Stable with Steve Leblanc the trainer. Breeders are Tom and Linda Winebrener.

In the eight race on the card, Jonathan Roberts used the rail post position to his advantage aboard Tenouttaten (Cam’s Rocket) to control every fraction in the trotting colts and gelding final to hold off a late charge by How Do You Goo (Googoo Gaagaa) in the 2:01.1 mile boosting his earnings to over $104,000. Tenouttaten is owned, trained and bred by Kerry Welty.

Race nine on the program saw the pacing colts and geldings close out the showcase with a speed duel between Smooth Rocket (Cam’s Rocket) on the rail and Oh Absolutely (Rusty’s For Real) on the outside giving pocket sitting Babes All In (Rusty’s All In) and driver Jared Moyer the opportunity to slip up the passing lane to tie the gelding stakes record of 1:54.1 set in 2019 by Trump That Rusty. Babes All In is owned, trained and bred by Ron Short. Babes All In raised his lifetime earnings to over $127,000.

Maryland Stakes take a week break returning on Monday July 31 with the freshman Maryland Standardbred Fund (foaled) Stakes.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting Results

by Cheri Stambaugh, for the Maryland Standardbred Race Fund