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Buckeye One Does Buckeye State Proud in Battle of Lake Erie
Sunday, June 11, 2006 - by Bob Roberts

Ian Fromowitz and John D. Fielding's Buckeye One made the Buckeye State proud Saturday, rallying from the back of the field to upset in the $125,000 Battle of Lake Erie at Northfield Park.

The 5-year-old Ohio-bred gelding, who is based in Canada, paid $64.80 for a $2 ticket, the largest win mutuel in the race's 21-year history. The son of Park Place, trained by Brett Robinson and driven by Daniel Clements, paced his mile in 1:51.2.

Brad Conrad photo

Buckeye One paid $64.80 for a $2 ticket, the largest win mutuel in the race's 21-year history. 
Ponder rallied to finish second, just like he did in last year's Battle of Lake Erie. Grin Some More, a 35-1 shot, was third, followed under the wire by Rebelman, Whosurboy, Dr No and last year's winner Maltese Artist. Spirit Of A Shark, the 6-5 favorite, lead in the opening quarter, but faded badly to last.

"My horse is a stone closer and the race set up exactly like I wanted it to," said Clements. "They were silly (racing too fast) up front, and Buckeye One has a big kick. Once I got into him in the last turn, it was over."

Spirit of a Shark was first away from the gate from post 2, but was quickly overtaken by Rebelman from the rail. Grin Some More closed up the hole and Spirit of a Shark was forced to try again for the lead. After a half-mile in 54 seconds, Dr No roared to the front and opened a sizeable lead on the Northfield backstretch, getting the opening three quarters of a mile in 1:21.4. He tired, however, and bowed to the late-charging top three finishers.

Buckeye One, the longest shot in the race at 30-1, began his racing career at Northfield Park. The win was his fifth in 18 starts this year .

"I was really happy to come [to Northfield] after I got the call," said Clements. "I came with my son, so it's been a good road trip."

Buckeye One was Clement's only mount on a 14-race card that included eight $20,000 divisions of Ohio Sires Stakes--four each for sophomore colt pacers and trotters. 

Dan Chaz ($89) wasn't the fastest OSS winner, but he helped light up Northfield's toteboard with huge exotic payoffs. The superfecta paid $14,922 for a $1, while the $2 trifecta returned $12,693.60.

"This is my first sires stake victory," said Ryan Stahl, who both trains and drives the gelded son of Expensive Scooter, who was timed in 1:55.1.

Psilvuheartbreaker ($5.60) went to the head of the 3-year-old pacing class by turning back four rivals in the last half-mile to win in 1:54.3 for trainer-driver Steve Carter. The victory by the Nobleland Sam gelding was his second in as many OSS starts this year. He was an easy winner of a first leg mile at Lebanon on May 6.
Carter urged Psilvuheartbreaker to brush aside challenges by Town Fool, Big Production and the late-charging I'm Faster for a nose victory.

J P Jackpot ($3.20), and Osborne's Bullet ($10.60), both driven by Greg Grismore, also won pacing divisions.

Sons of Superstar Sahbra--Super Rapper ($7.80) and Super Rule ($9.60)--grabbed divisions of the Ohio Sires Stakes sophomore trotting series. Master Pine ($27) and Sky Ridge Knight ($2.60) also scored. For Sky Ridge Knight, his victory was his second in as many OSS starts this year. His 1:58.2 clocking was fastest among the successful trotters.


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