Ocean Downs: Upsets in Maryland Sire Stakes

The second and final preliminary leg of the Maryland Sire Stakes for 3-year-old colt and gelding trotters and pacers was contested Monday evening over the half-mile oval at Ocean Downs, setting the stage for Championship Night later this month. Three $10,000 divisions highlighted the card, with one division for trotters and two divisions for pacers.

Booger Bear Turns the Tables in Trotting Division

The evening opened with a highly anticipated rematch between Richard Hans stablemates Y'all Got No Shot and Booger Bear, who finished first and second, respectively, in the opening preliminary one week earlier. This time, Booger Bear reversed the outcome.

Driven by Johnathan Ahle, the son of Yall Beneath Me enjoyed a perfect pocket trip behind his stablemate before edging past in the final strides to capture a nose victory in 1:58 2/5. Y'all Got No Shot, the overwhelming favorite with Russell Foster in the sulky, dictated the tempo through fractions of 30 1/5, 59 3/5 and 1:29 before being caught in the final yards.

Convicted Criminal closed well to finish third, while Doctor Scott was fourth.

The victory gave trainer Richard Hans a sweep of both preliminary trotting divisions while creating an even more compelling storyline heading into the championship final.

Inca Social Scores First Stakes Victory

The first pacing division belonged to Inca Social, who broke through with an impressive first Maryland Sire Stakes victory of the season.

Roger Plante Jr. put the Howard Birney trainee on the front end and battled B Real who was parked every call. From there, the son of Nuclear Breeze turned back a determined late rally from Dapper Time to win by 1 1/2 lengths in 1:56 3/5.

Dapper Time closed stoutly after racing near the back of the field for much of the mile, while Coach Cooley finished another half-length behind in third.

Opening preliminary winner B Real was unable to repeat, fading in the stretch after racing on or near the lead to finish fifth.

Beach Buggy Springs the Evening's Biggest Surprise

The night's biggest upset came in the second pacing division as Beach Buggy shocked the field at odds of 12-1.

Driver Russell Foster wasted little time sending the William Wyatt trainee to the front, where the son of Toms Titan controlled every call before stopping the timer in 1:59 2/5.

Michelle's Kyle mounted a strong late charge from fifth to finish second, while Dapperfly completed the top three.

Heavy favorite and opening-leg winner Better Gon encountered trouble after making multiple breaks during the mile.

Championship Night Awaits

With Monday's races, the preliminary portion of the Maryland Sire Stakes for 3-year-old colt and gelding trotters and pacers has officially concluded.

The division's top point earners will return to Ocean Downs on Wednesday, July 29, when the track hosts Maryland Sire Stakes Championship Night. The evening will feature the championship finals for all 3-year-old Maryland Sire Stakes divisions, as the state's finest sophomore trotters and pacers compete for championship titles and the richest purses of the season.

-edited release (Ocean Downs)