BOOT'S PLACE & PREVIEW THE DREAM WIN OCEAN STAKES RACES

Ocean Downs featured two divisional races in the first leg of its Late Closer "Michelob Pace" Thursday, July 17. Boot's Place, a highly touted three year-old filly by Park Place from Put The Boots won handily in the 1st Division (1:56.1, $2.60). Eric Ledford drove the filly to her eighth win in sixteen starts this year for trainer Michael Hall.

"Yeah she's a real nice horse," Hall said. Boots Place went wire-to-wire and won by five lengths impressing her trainer. "Yeah really good. Good driver, good horse. Makes it easy," said Hall who now has eleven wins and continues as the summer-meet leading trainer. The driving win was Ledford's 30th of the meet as he continues to lead all drivers at the ocean.

Ray Robinson, Jr. recorded his 18th win this summer and has 975 career wins as "Shorty" took the reigns for the W. David Hill III owned and trained four year-old Preview The Dream, which took the 2nd Division of the Michelob Light Pace" Thursday (1:58.3, $7.20). The victory for the Preview Lobell-Bonnie Dream mare was her first this year, having raced recently at Harrington Raceway. Hill was scheduled to drive his horse, but was injured a couple races earlier. The Salisbury, Maryland native called the track from the hospital and let fans know his injuries were not serious.

In addition to an Eric Ledford driving-double Thursday night, Victor Kirby piloted a pair of winners. Kirby took the Eli Scott, Jr. trained and owned five year-old Champagne Charley to his first win of the year (1:57.3, $28.80). Kirby also drove three year-old filly Hot Jeans to her maiden win for trainer-owner Duane Stoliker of Millsboro, Delaware. Stoliker had not raced his filly as a two year-old, feeling she was not ready, but he's excited about her now after only her second start (1:59.3, $16.40). "She's the real thing," Stoliker said.

Frank Milby also earned a driving-double Thursday at the ocean. Milby took 8/5 favorite Crucial Escape to the mare's second win of the year (1:59.1, $5.40).. Milby then posted his 14th win of this summer meet as the Shawn Manley owned and trained twelve year-old Albert Falcon N, a Harrington import won his fifth in sixteen 2008 starts (1:56.0, $4.60).

Racing resumes Saturday night when Ocean Downs will feature their Pink Ribbon Night for the benefit of Women Supporting Women to help provide awareness, friendship and support for breast cancer survivors and their families. The 60th Anniversary live summer meet at the Ocean Oval continues a Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday format through closing night Sunday, August 24. Parking and admission are free and the first-post nightly is 7:35 pm. For more information, call Ocean Downs (410) 641-0600 or visit on line www.oceandowns.com.


Jim Whittemore, Publicity Director, X 204

jim.whittemore@oceandowns.com