Ocean Downs: Sophomores clash in Maryland Sire Stakes finals

Three-year-old pacers and trotters of both sexes competed in four $75,000 Maryland Sire Stakes finals on Wednesday evening at Ocean Downs.

Filly trotters kicked off the action in a non-wagering event, and Charlie's Song (Roger Plante Jr.) led through panels of 29, 58 4/5, and 1:30 1/5 on her way to defeating pocket-sitter You'll Never Be Me (Russell Foster) by three-quarters of a length in 2:02 2/5. Lady Eleanor (John Wagner) finished third.

Steve Leblanc trains Charlie's Song, a Hoofbeats De Vie filly, for co-owner/breeder Glenn Dyke and co-owners Leblanc Racing Inc., Count De Money Stable, and William Lutz Jr. Charlie's Song made her seventh appearance in the winner's circle from 13 efforts, and she has now stashed away $156,460.

Hoofbeats De Vie (Foster) has been dominant in the Maryland program as both as freshman and a sophomore, and that was no different tonight, as he won the colt and gelding trot in 2:01 3/5. Hoofbeats De Vie clicked off fractions of 30 2/5, 1:01 1/5, and 1:31 2/5 and downed pocket-sitter Tungsten Tim (Wagner) by 8 3/4 lengths, with Whitesville Mr Aw (Trae Porter) and Bonjour Mary Ellen (Jim Morand) rounding out the order.

A gelding by Charlie De Vie, Hoofbeats De Vie is trained by Chris Lakata for Joie De Vie Stable LLC. Joie De Vie also bred Hoofbeats De Vie, who has a record of 12-0-0 from 13 appearances and a bankroll of $180,540. He paid $2.10 to win as the 1-9 favorite.

The colt and gelding pace went to Anthonys All In (Wagner), who sped to the engine from post two, put up stations of 29 2/5, 59 3/5, and 1:28 4/5, and closed in 29 2/5 to defeat stablemate Donnys All In (Jared Moyer) by 6 1/4 lengths in 1:58 1/5. Alpha Beta (Porter) checked in third.

Wagner also trains Anthonys All In, a Rusty's All In gelding, for owner/breeder Pamela Wagner. Anthonys All In has 12 wins, two seconds, and a third from 16 career starts, and he has now earned $208,160. Also sent off at 1-9, Anthonys All In returned $2.10 to win.

► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter

Connies All In (Moyer) was the big favorite in the filly pace, but she broke stride past the start and again on the third turn, throwing the race wide-open. Taking advantage was Maleficent K (Mark Gray), who was in command at the 29 second opening quarter, 1:00 1/5 half, and 1:28 3/5 three-quarters, then kicked home in 29 2/5 to down pocket-sitter Grey Rocket (Foster) in 1:58. Movie Premiere (Jonathan Roberts) collected third.

Maleficent K is a daughter of Rusty's For Real trained by Gray for owner/breeder Charles Marsh Jr. She won for the third time from 14 lifetime tries, has now pocketed $69,440, and paid $26 to win after being dispatched at 12-1.