Curly Top trotted to a stakes and national season’s record 1:55.2 to win her division of the $43,234 Ohio Breeders Championship for three-year-old filly trotters on opening day at the Delaware, Ohio Fair
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The victory was Curly Top’s twelfth of the season in 22 starts and it increased her 2009 earnings to $74,210 for owner/trainer Jerry Lighthill of Wauseon, OH. The daughter of Emily Angus also captured the $80,000 Ohio Sires Stakes Championship at Northfield Park.
Driver Aaron Merriman moved Curly Top into an early lead and never looked back, beating Rose Run Keepsake by more than three lengths with Get Chipped third.
Striking Lauren, driven by Ray Paver, moved from third at the top of the stretch to edge Mini Marvelous and Mocha Jo for only her third victory of the season. The Chip Chip Hooray filly, who stopped the clock in 2:00.1, is owned by trainer Danny Collins of Columbus, Jerry Sommers of Pickerington, OH and John Rhoads, Jr. of Circleville, OH.
Shez Good Osborne slipped her head in front at the wire to win the $55,834 Ohio Breeders Championship two-year-old filly pace in 1:56.4 at the Delaware County Fair.
Stan Stahl powered the Mantacular filly on the outside to nip Up Front Cruiser and Rub Thing for her fourth win in 2009. Owned by Jerome Osborne and trained by Eric Hamlet, paid $95.20 to win.
(Little Brown Jug)