Favorites prevail in Maryland Sire Stakes finals

BERLIN, Md. — Odds-on favorites Geralds A Keeper (Lockkeeper-Brilliance Hanover), Fancy Like That (Rusty’s For Real-Scootin Woody) and Tony Babe (Rusty’s For Real-Aunt Babe) swept Wednesday’s (July 24) trio of $87,500 Maryland Sire Stakes harness racing championships for 3-year-olds on the pari-mutuel card at Ocean Downs while a would-be odds-on favorite in Only I Exist likewise coasted to victory in the non-betting $87,500 Maryland Sire Stakes final for 3-year-old trotting fillies.

Geralds A Keeper completed a sweep of the series and extended his winning streak to five with a 1:58 score in the 3-year-old male trot. Trae Porter launched the gelding to the fore from the outside post six, and the pair traveled unopposed through splits of :28.4, :58.1 and 1:28 before evading a mild late rally from stablemate K J Dash by two lengths. War Pony was a one-paced third from the pocket.

John Wagner trains Geralds A Keeper, now a six-time winner with $122,920 in earnings, for owner Kelsey Wagner.

Fancy Like That likewise swept the 3-year-old pacing filly series, building on 15-1/2- and 11-1/4-length wins in her preliminaries with a dominating 12-length, 1:56 score over Yourgracefound Me. Marissa For Real was a distant third.

Johnathan Ahle drove Kasey Bendix and Virginia Marvel’s homebred filly to her 16th career win and her ninth of the season. She paid $2.10 to win.

The sophomore male pace saw Tony Babe and driver Jonathan Roberts rate splits of :28.3, :58.2 and 1:27.1 before accelerating in the stretch to repel a late challenge from pocket rival Petes For Real by a half a length in 1:55.4. The Editor finished third.

Tony Babe, a gelding, has now won four races — all this season — for owner, breeder and trainer Ronald Short. He paid $3.40 to win.

The non-wagering 3-year-old filly trot was a virtual walkover for Richard Hans’ homebred Only I Exist (Yall Beneath Me-Get Rich Quick), who was never challenged by runner-up Emily’s Locket and the galloping New Concept at any point in her 1:56.3 lifetime-best mile, which she won by 21-3/4 lengths. Russell Foster drove the filly to her 12th win in 13 career starts.

Hans also owns, trains and bred Watch Me Goo This, who won the $13,500 final of the Tom Cooke Memorial, for 2-year-old trotters. In line to Ahle, the daughter of International Moni-Gooreatness sprinted to a four-length lead over Prince Of Royals through a :58.2 first half and then narrowly held off a late bid from that rival to win by a nose in 1:59.4. Chex Check, the 4-5 favorite, closed significant ground around a failing second flight to finish third, beaten 2-3/4 lengths.

In the $12,000 Open Handicap Trot, Eric Foster’s Sinatra De Vie rallied to his fourth win in as many starts at the Ocean meet, vaulting three-wide up the backstretch to post a last-to-first, 1:55.1 win over Coventry Hall. The 4-year-old Southwind Frank-Lola De Vie gelding vaulted five lengths clear in the stretch to give Ahle his third of four driving wins on the evening.

Racing returns to Ocean Downs on Sunday (July 28) with a 12-race card; first post is 7:05 p.m.

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

From Ocean Downs