Redemption for Collins in $85,000 OSS Championship

Northfield, OH — Harness racing trainer Danny Collins entered Saturday’s (Oct. 14) $85,000 Ohio Sires Stakes Championships for Veteran trotting mares looking for redemption after making a miscue in the Ohio Breeder’s Championship at Delaware. He did just that, scoring in gate-to-wire fashion on Saturday (October 14) at MGM Northfield Park.

Martysmagicmoment (Creatine, Tony Hall) was put into play early, clearing rival Twentyfour K Magic (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) mid-way around the first turn. Hall quickly opened up a three-length lead on the field but paid the price to do so with a strong :27 opening fraction.

Approaching the half, Hall tried to get a breather, but heavy favorite Refined (Tyler Smith) was breathing down her neck, with the pair getting to the half in :56.1. With three-eighths of a mile to trot, Refined got rough and jumped off stride, completely turning the race on its head.

The miscue allowed Martymagicmoment to step away to a three-length lead into the backstretch. Coming to three-quarters in 1:25.1, Sandis Commando L (Hank Le Van) made a three-wide sweeping move to make her way into second, with Herculisa (Brett Miller) revving up after breaking before the start into the final turn. Through the stretch, Martysmagicmoment held off a charging Herculisa to win by a half-length in 1:56.2.

The homebred mare is owned by M. Mc Lain, C. Mclain, and H. Burger and is trained by Danny Collins. The 4-year-old now has 11 victories in 45 starts, with $282,640 earned in her career.

In the counterpart Ohio Sire Stakes Championship for Veteran colt and gelding trotters, Smoking Jet (Triumphant Caviar) took the lead at the half and never looked back.

After a sluggish beginning from Bamboo (Drew Neill), who had the rail, Joggingtothebank (Brett Miller), Smoking Jet (Chris Page), and I Know My Chip (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) were battling it out three-wide around the first turn. They sorted themselves out into the backstretch with Smoking Jet clearing for a moment, but I Know My Chip was right there and took the lead before the :28 opening fraction.

Page was not content to sit in the pocket with Smoking Jet; he tipped him to the outside and re-took before a half in a well-rated:57.2. Caviar Gold (Aaron Merriman) was the first to try to take on the leader, the pair wrestled to three-quarters in 1:26.2 where Caviar Gold began to waiver, so Merriman put him in the pocket to try to save some ground.

Through the stretch, Merriman asked Caviar Gold for more, but he didn’t have it as Smoking Jet drew clear, winning by two lengths in 1:56.1. Rose Run Valor (Kayne Kauffman) rallied from off the pace to be second, with Caviar Gold just hanging on for third.

It was the 35th lifetime victory for the 6-year-old who Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, and Chris Page own. Smoking Jet pushed his earnings to $567,022 with the victory.

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

by Michael Carter, for MGM Northfield Park