Grove City, OH – The first leg of the Buckeye Stallion Series for Two-Year-Old Colts and Fillies was held at MGM Northfield Park Monday night. A total of 117 Two-Year- Old harness racing pacers competed in seven colt divisions and six filly divisions. Each division carried a purse of $17,500.
On the colt side of the ledger two youngsters remained undefeated. Twig, the gelded son of Mr Apples, collected his second win in as many starts as he took a lifetime mark of 1:53.3, the fastest of the night. The freshman was three-wide at the quarter before taking the lead and winning by 3½ lengths. Aaron Merriman drove for trainer Mike Polhamus and owner Julie Farley.
Polhamus picked up his second winner on the colt side when Brighter Days, driven by Kurt Sugg, went wire to wire in 1:55.2 by 3-3/4 lengths. The gelded son of Woodstock is also undefeated in two lifetime starts.
Imagine It, by If I Can Dream, made it three straight wins in four lifetime starts. Driver Peter Wrenn got away fourth before taking the lead going to the half and drawing away by 2¾ lengths in a lifetime best 1:54.3. Kurt Wilcox trains for owner Richard Copp.
Other colt winners include: Illini Duke, by Well Said, in 1:56.3 for Chris Page and owner-trainer Brian Roebuck. He's A Dickens, by Well Said, in 1:55.2 for Tyler Smith, Kris Hinchcliff and owner Elliot Misshula. KB Mac, by McArdle, in 1:55.3 for Ryan Stahl, Dan Venier and owners Ken and John Saunders. Weekend Pass, by Big Bad John, in 1:55.2 for Dan and Christi Noble for owners Brent Hopper, Kyle Gray and Jerry Scheve.
The fillies were led by Apple Soozy with Andy Shetler for trainer Dan O'Mara and owner Marjorie Polhamus in 1:55.1. The Mr Apples filly is a perfect three for three after the two-hole trip before winning by 1-3/4 lengths. Another winner for the driver, trainer and owner combination was Rainy Day Chic, by Rockin Amadeus, in 1:55.3 going wire to wire winning by ¾ lengths. She is now two for three lifetime.
Smothastenesewisky is now two for two in lifetime starts with the win in 1:54.3 with Chris Page. Brian Haynes owns and trains the Nob Hill High daughter, who got away fifth and took command before the half, drawing away by 6¼ lengths.
The fastest of the six divisions for the fillies was Heavenissofaraway who came home the winner in 1:54.1 with Chris Page for owner-trainer Anette Lorentzon. The daughter of Racing Hill went coast to coast winning by 2½ lengths.
Other winners were Margin Of Error, by Racing Hill, in 1:57.4 with Ronnie Wrenn Jr for Chris Beaver. The owners are Donald Robinson, Chris Beaver, David Meola and RBH Ventures. Free Thinker, by Western Vintage, in 1:54.4 with Chris Page for Ron Burke and owners Burke Racing Stable, Jason Melillo, J&T Silva-Purnel & Libby and Weaver Bruscemi.
The second leg of the two-year-old pace for colts and fillies is scheduled for Thursday July 23 at Eldorado Scioto Downs.
by Roger Huston, for the OHHA