Delaware, Ohio-based trainer Brian Brown held all the cards in the $120,900 Ohio Breeders Championship (OBC) for freshmen filly pacers, taking three of the top four places on the opening day of racing at the Delaware County Fair Sunday, Sept. 16.
When the starting gate released the field of eight, driver Ryan Stahl sent Carmen Ohio for the lead from post one. Stablemate High Reward was also sent for the lead by Ronnie Wrenn Jr. but had to overcome post six.
Carmen Ohio and High Reward traded the lead through the opening quarters of :28.2 and :59.1. Stahl quickened the pace to the third quarter in :1:27.3. Wrenn popped out of the pocket and tried to collar the leader but came up a neck short in 1:55.1.
The Panderosa filly is owned by Milton Leeman, Steve Manning, Brent Meizlish & William Calvert.
Sugar And Spite took the third spot from another Brown trainee, Ni Me Bonita.
In the $12,800 OBC Aged Pace, Docdor Friskie and Tyler Smith led gate to wire to win by a length over the pocket-sitting Barley Up in a stakes-record 1:51.4.
Docdor Friskie is a five-year-old Feelin Friskie gelding owned by Miller Racing Stable of Greenville, OH.
In My Dream (Brady Galliers) took the fastest of the three divisions of the $15,000 Buckeye Stallion Series for sophomore colt trotters in a lifetime-best 1:55.1 with Brady Galliers in the bike. He's a Winning Fireworks gelding owned by Galliers Racing of Defiance, OH.
Secret Pro, driven by Hugh Beatty, and Fleet Cessna, driven by Dan Noble, took the other two divisions in 1:57.1 and 1:57 respectively.
The two divisions of the Buckeye Stallion Series for three-year-old filly trotters were also contested. Infrontandforgetit and Dan Noble scored in 1:56.1 in the first division. In the second division, Cindi Hall was placed first after Kellie’s MVP was disqualified for interference in the first turn. Aaron Merriman sat in the bike.
Stephen Oldford, representing the Delvin Miller Amateur Drivers Association, won the Tim Fouts Memorial Driving Championship. Oldford drove Arch Hanover to a 1:57 score over H-And-N Dho Hailey and Badger Quinn. The Fouts Memorial brings together representatives from amateur drivers clubs from across the country.
The Billings Amateur Trot divisions went to Ill Tell You What, driven by Richard Roach, and Sebiskit Bluegrass with Joey Putnam in 1:59.2 miles.
Monday’s 14-race card will start at 3:00 p.m. with the simulcast program on the air at 2:30 p.m. Monday features the $101,700 OBC for sophomore trotting fillies and a $5,000 guaranteed Pick 4 (races 8-11).
(With files from the Delaware County Fair)