Northfield: Fear Of Sports matches world record

Fear Of Sports etched her name in the world record book next to Sea Silk when she won the second of two $55,000 Ohio Sires Stakes divisions for 2-year-old pacing fillies on Tuesday evening at Northfield Park in 1:51 2/5, tying the standard for a freshman filly pacer on a half-mile oval that the Buckeye State standout set last year.

Driven by Tyler Smith, Fear Of Sports raced in third while Seaside Tina (Chris Lems) chopped out the opening quarter of 26 3/5, and then Fear Of Sports would begin a first-over move going to the 56 1/5 half-mile marker. Fear Of Sports took the lead on the outside before the 1:24 three-quarters and dispatched Seaside Tina for good midway through the final bend, leaving Cruise Alert (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.), who had been second-over, in an uncovered position.

Despite losing the helmet she was following, Cruise Alert was game and rallied at Fear Of Sports through the stretch, but she just couldn't reach Fear Of Sports, who hit the wire three-quarters of a length to the good in the world record-equaling mile. McSeaside (Chris Page) advanced from sixth to third in the last quarter.

A daughter of Fear The Dragon-Sportin The Gold, Fear Of Sports is trained by Kelly O'Donnell for owner/breeder Emerald Highlands Farm. She has five wins and two seconds in seven starts, has now earned $129,125, and paid $2.40 to win as the 1-5 favorite.

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Back in the opening Ohio Sires Stakes tilt, More The Merrier (Aaron Merriman) posted fractions of 28 1/5, 57 2/5, and 1:25 1/5 on her way to a 2 1/4 length victory in 1:52 2/5. Stormy Serena (Smith) was second after a pocket trip, and Windydayatthebeach (Wrenn Jr.) finished third.

Bucky Troute trains More The Merrier, a Western Vintage-Dark Fiber filly bred by Wayne Weaver, for owner September Six. More The Merrier, purchased for $8,000 at last year's Ohio Selected Jug Sale, has a record of 4-0-1 from eight appearances, boosted her bankroll to $46,911, and returned $3.60 to win as the 4-5 choice.