Fillies romp in Maryland Sire Stakes, Ahle wins 7

BERLIN, MD — Kasey Bendix and Virginia Marvel’s homebred Fancy Like That (Rusty’s For Real-Scootin Wood) remained undefeated in Maryland Sire Stakes events this harness racing season after delivering a 15-1/2 length drubbing to her four foes in Wednesday’s (July 3) $10,000 first-round preliminary event for 3-year-old pacing fillies at Ocean Downs. Only I Exist (Yall Beneath Me-Get Rich Quick) kept her seasonal stakes record intact with a similarly decisive win in the 3-year-old filly trot.

After coasting to a sweep of the spring Sire Stakes series at Rosecroft, Fancy Like That worked her way into upper-level classes at Ocean and won two of her first three starts on the half-mile oval. On Wednesday, she rolled unopposed through splits of :28.3, :57.4 and 1:27.1 in line to Johnathan Ahle before sprinting away from pocket rival Yourgracefound Me (driven by Eric Davis) through a :28.2 final quarter to cap a 1:55.3 mile. Covid For Real (Corey Braden) finished third.

Fancy Like That, whom Bendix also trains, has now won 14 times in 23 career starts and has banked $145,270.
In the trotting split, spring series champion Only I Exist and driver Russell Foster defeated Emily’s Locket by 12-1/4 lengths in 2:00.1. She is now a perfect four-for-four as a sophomore and has won 10 of 11 career starts and $203,381 for owner-trainer-breeder Richard Hans.

In the trotting split, spring series champion Only I Exist and driver Russell Foster defeated Emily’s Locket by 12-1/4 lengths in 1:57.4. She is now a perfect four-for-four as a sophomore and has won 10 of 11 career starts and $203,381 for owner-trainer-breeder Richard Hans.

Following the pair of non-wagering stakes events, two $12,000 Opens highlighted the 13-race pari-mutuel program.

The Open Handicap Trot saw Sinatra De Vie (Southwind Frank, $3.40) vault off three-wide cover to again defeat pacesetter Coventry Hall by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:56.3. Ahle drove the 4-year-old gelding to his 15th career win and third of the meet for owner-trainer Eric Foster. The Fillies and Mares Open Handicap Pace ended a dead heat between favorites Square Deal (Tony Morgan) and Got The Gold (Ahle), both of whom paced in 1:53.3 and paid $2.10 to win in their joint defeat of Sharkine N.

In total, Ahle drove seven winners on the evening, giving him 42 through the first six weeks of the meet. Trae Porter is second with 23; William Carter is third with 18.

Live racing returns to Ocean Downs on Sunday (July 7); the 12-race card features a $25,500 Maryland Sire Stakes event for 4- and 5-year-old pacers and a $12,000 Open Handicap Pace. First post is 7:05 p.m.

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

From Ocean Downs