Dublin Dasher handles field in Maryland Standardbred Race Fund

BERLIN, Md. — Pocono invader Dublin Dasher (Always B Miki-DB Blue Chip) scored his third win in five starts as a sophomore on Sunday night (Aug. 11), posting a 3-1/2-length harness racing score over Maryland Sire Stakes champion Tony Babe in the lone $49,090 Maryland Standardbred Race Fund event for 3-year-old male pacers at Ocean Downs.

Tony Morgan sat off the pace with Dublin Dasher while Tony Babe (driven by Jonathan Roberts) and Better Dig Two (Jared Moyer) dueled through a :28 first quarter, but then the pair surged from fifth to take the lead just before a :57.1 half. Once in front, the gelding was never in doubt, edging clear of Tony Babe through the stretch for a facile 1:55.4 score by three and one-half lengths. Petes For Real (Trae Porter) rallied mildly to nab Better Dig Two for third.

Hunter Oaks trains Dublin Dasher, a six-time winner in 13 starts who paid $2.10 to win, for Alan Johnston and H O Racing Inc.

Morgan also captured the overnight feature, steering On The Cards N (Bettor’s Delight) to a half-length, 1:52.3 win over even-money choice Fantastic Voyage in the $12,000 Open Handicap Pace. Willard Reynolds trains the 9-year-old gelding, who now has won 32 times in his career, for owner Mark Howard. He paid $5.60 to win.

Geralds A Keeper (Lockkeeper-Brilliance Hanover) took top billing in the Maryland Standardbred Race Fund events for 3-year-old male trotters, coasting to his sixth consecutive win in his $24,600 division and evading pocket rival Ronnie Ridge by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:57.4. He paid $4.60 to win.

Trae Porter drove the gelding for trainer John Wagner and owner Kelsey Wagner. The other split saw Scott Woogen homebred K J Pro (Muscle Massive-Progressive Caviar) and driver Eric Davis sustain a fourth-to-first brush through the second lap and upend even-money pacesetter Daddy Wags by two lengths in 1:59.1. B. Michael Moffitt trains the gelding, who paid $8.20 to win.

Morgan, Hugh O’Neill and Jason Thompson all recorded driving doubles on the 12-race card.

Live racing returns to Ocean Downs on Wednesday (Aug. 14); first post is 7:05 p.m.

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

From Ocean Downs