Ocean City, MD – On Sunday August 26th the Maryland sired freshman harness racing trotting colts and geldings went to post as race 5 in the Charles Keller Memorial with a purse of $67,000 at Ocean Downs.
Whoopdee Goo (Googoo Gaagaa) got away 4th but driver Jim Morand pulled near the half taking the lead, extending it to five lengths by the wire in the 2:01.1 mile. Mind Yown Business (Lockkeeper) recovered from a break at the half to charge down the stretch to finish second. Whoopdee Goo is owned, trained and bred by Richard Hans.
The $67,000 Hubert Jackson Memorial for two year old pacing fillies tied the stakes record of 1:56.3 in race six. How Bout Dat Rusty (Rusty's For Real) with Jonathan Roberts in the bike went wire to wire, tripping the timer 1 ¾ lengths ahead of B For Real (Rusty's For Real) Mike Hall trains for owner Al Carter and breeder Carter Racing Stable.
The two year old sire stakes finished up on Monday August 27 starting with the W.W. 'Pete" Shaw Memorial for pacing colts and geldings. Reinsman Corey Callahan tipped Owzitgoin (Rusty's For Real) out from 6th before the half, getting the lead by the ¾ pole and charging down the stretch to win by seven lengths over Sonny's Blessing in 1:56.4.
This was definitely a family affair as Corey's brother Shaun trains for their mother's Breakaway Racing and the breeders are dad Nick Callahan and Corey and Joanna Callahan. The purse was $67,000.
The $67,000 Ronald "Doc" Banning Memorial for trotting fillies set a new stakes record of 2:01.1. Pats A Keeper (Lockkeeper) got away 8th, was 6th by the half, three deep at the ¾, winning by a head over stable mate Mary's A Keeper (Lockkeeper). Jared Moyer was in the bike for trainer Arlene Cameron and owner-breeder Pam Wagner.
The Maryland Sire Stakes for two year olds will start their fall series on September 16th at Rosecroft Raceway.
By Cheri Stambaugh, for the Maryland Standardbred Fund