Northfield: For Once Inmy Life, Seafire connect in Ohio Sires Stakes

For Once Inmy Life and Seafire captured the two $55,000 Ohio Sires Stakes showdowns for sophomore colt and gelding pacers that were the featured races on Saturday night at MGM Northfield Park.

Driven by Matt Kakaley, For Once Inmy Life moved to the outside from the pocket racing to the 26 3/5 opening quarter and wrestled the top spot away from 44-1 shot Dunkin' (Nick Clegg) past that marker. For Once Inmy Life would then reach the half in 55 seconds and the three-quarters in 1:22 2/5 while repelling a first-over advance by Act Fast (Chris Page).

Act Fast's bid was done before For Once Inmy Life turned into the stretch, but Dunkin' angled out to try and get back around the pace-setter through the drive. For Once Inmy Life was able to get to the wire first, though, prevailing by a neck over Dunkin' in a 1:50 3/5 mile, with Burnout (Billy Davis Jr.) third after a second-over journey.

By Downbytheseaside, For Once Inmy Life was bred by Joe Sbrocco, and he shares ownership of the Noel Daley trainee with partners Country Club Acres Inc., John Fodera and Steve Wienick Racing LLC. This was For Once Inmy Life's third win from ten career starts, he has now earned $82,150, and he paid $2.40 to win as the 1-5 favorite.

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In the other split Rockmelikeyameanit (Billy Davis Jr.) led early on, but he would be passed by Racing Rampage (Aaron Merriman) approaching the 26 2/5 quarter, and then Racing Rampage would yield to Downrightdelicious (Kakaley). Merriman would re-move Racing Rampage to the point coming to the 54 1/5 half, while The Real Way (Page) stepped out first-over from fourth, giving cover to Low Rider (Hunter Myers) and Seafire (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.).

Racing Rampage maintained his spot at the head of the table through three-quarters in 1:21 4/5, but Wrenn Jr. had Seafire three-wide and winging en route to that point, and after sustaining his bid around the final bend, he would surge past Racing Rampage coming into the stretch. Seafire would edge clear from there to win by two lengths in 1:50 2/5 as Racing Rampage wound up second and Low Rider checked in third.

Another son of Downbytheseaside, Seafire is trained by Brian Brown for owners Country Club Acres Inc., Joelyn Ridder, Mark Kantrowitz and Scott Davis. Bred by Enos Weaver, Seafire, who didn't race as 2-year-old, has four wins, two seconds, and a third from seven efforts in 2023. He pushed his bankroll to $62,300 and returned $9.80 to win as the 7-2 third choice.