The opening day of the 2026 Delaware County Fair on Sunday, Sept. 20, featuring two $100,915 Ohio Breeders Championship (OBC) divisions for two-year-old pacing fillies, started with steady rain showers and a dull track, but by mid-card the surface was upgraded to fast thanks to a brisk breeze and intermittent sun.
The first division was set up to be a rematch between Tempting Flames and Cleveland Darby after the latter upset the former in their Ohio Sires Stakes Championship, and the two pacers did not disappoint.
David Miller hustled Tempting Flames off the gate’s wings, putting the eventual winner in the pocket and Demons Angel (Tyler Smith) in the three-hole through the first three panels of :28.2; :57 and 1:26. As the top three went around the final turn, Chris Page eased Cleveland Darby off the rail. The filly then paced alongside Tempting Flames for the final eighth of the mile and went ahead to receive the final call in 1:53.2. She was three-quarters of a length clear of the place finisher, with Demons Angel third.
Ron Burke trains Cleveland Darby for Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, R A S Racing LLC and Larry Karr. The daughter of Downbytheseaside-Loreenas Ruffian has won six of her nine starts. Sunday's win gave her the final jewel in the Ohio Triple Crown after she captured the Ohio State Fair and the Ohio Sires Stakes Final earlier this year. She paid $6.80 to win.
The second division went to Cleveland Darby’s stablemate Dancin Miki in 1:57, giving Page and Burke a sweep of the freshman filly features.
Dancin Miki, fourth through :28 and :57.1 early fractions, used a first-up campaign through three-quarters in 1:26.2 to strike the front over Party Up (Aaron Merriman) in the final turn. The Monte Miki-Sweet Britches filly held off a late-closing Yourgonaloveme (Ronnie Gillespie) by three-quarters of a length, and Miki Grad (Tyler Smith) was another quarter-length back in third.
Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Knox Services Inc. and R A S Racing LLC co-own the winner. Dancin Miki tallied her second win in five career starts. The win price was $5.40.
Rose Run Zane Captures OBC Aged Pace
Rose Run Zane, driven by Tyler Smith, protected his rail position and held off a rush by Pariss Dragon to secure the $48,451 Ohio Breeders Championship for aged pacers in 1:51.4.
The five-year-old gelded son by Racing Hill-Mrs American Pie controlled the fractions of :26.4, :55.3 and 1:23.3, fending off early challenges by Downbythewater (Justin Irvine) and For Once Inmy Life (Cory Stratton). Rose Run Zane cruised home in :28.1 to win by 1-1/4 lengths. Pariss Dragon (Chris Page) was second, followed by Downbythewater.
John K. and Leann M. Saunders are the winning owners, and Dan Venier the victorious trainer. Rose Run Zane is now 18-for-66 lifetime. He paid $10.80 to win.
Miller Sweeps OBC Aged Trot
Driver David Miller sat patiently through the first five-eighths of the mile and used a backside brush with Hung Over to take the second $25,845 division of the Ohio Breeders Championship for aged trotters.
Caviar Gold (Aaron Merriman) set the early fractions of :28 and :57.1. Hung Over sat third in the early going, then put a head in front past the three-quarters in 1:26. Caviar Gold tried to battle back on the rail but came up 3-1/2 lengths short as Hung Over sealed the deal in 1:55. Prince Charmer (Chris Page) took third.
Bob Stewart trains and Bluestone Farms LLC and Lynda Stewart own the winning Creatine-Drunkards Dream gelding. The five-year-old Hung Over won for the 15th time in 51 lifetime starts. He returned $3.80 at the windows.
In the first division, Battle Hill held off Long Highway to score in 1:56.3.
Irresistible Son (Cam McCown) grabbed the early lead from post four and passed the opening quarter in :29, but Battle Hill and Miller took control on the way to the half-mile station in :58.3. Long Highway (Hugh Beatty) was the first to challenge the leader as they approached the three-quarters in 1:28.2. Battle Hill used a :28.1 final panel to win by a half-length. Jailhouse Pearl (Brett Miller) closed for third.
The winning four-year-old gelded son of Marseille-Battle Mage is owned by William A. Hartt and conditioned by Matthew Burkholder. Battle Hill is now 18-for-42 lifetime. The win payout was $2.80.
Buckeye Stallion Series
The Delaware County Fair also hosted five $28,169 divisions of the fifth leg of the Buckeye Stallion Series (BSS) for freshman filly pacers.
Lyons Cartier and Sempre B Bella highlighted the list of winners, as each secured her second BSS win of the season.
Lyons Cartier (Marcus Miller) recorded the fastest mile of the five BSS races, winning the fourth division in 1:55.2. The Downbytheseaside-Sweet Diamond filly led gate to wire and finished five lengths ahead of second-placed Miss Miki (Brady Galliers) with Seaside Sweetie (Chris Page) taking third. Lyons Cartier is trained by Erv Miller for owner Threelyonsracing.
Sempre B Bella (Tyler Smith) came from fourth at the halfway mark to win the fifth division by 5-3/4 lengths in 1:55.4. Mbt The Tanks (Sam Widger) and Tina Fire (Ken Holliday) rounded out the top three. Sempre B Bella, a daughter of Monte Miki-Bella Marta, is owned by trainer Steve Carter and Haley Carter.
Sky Miki (Marc St. Louis Jr.) won the first division by 4-3/4 lengths in a lifetime-best 1:56.2. The Monte Miki-Rose Run Skyler filly was in fifth place and trailed the leader by more than five lengths at the halfway mark but took the lead entering the final stretch en route to the victory. Up The Heat (Trevor Smith) was second, followed by Blue Collar Boujee (Tyler Smith) in third. Sky Miki is owned and trained by Stacey Currie.
Seaside Masquerade (Alex Hawk) won the second division by a neck over You Go Cocoa (Aaron Merriman) in 1:57 with Our Grey Heart (Tyler Smith) just a half-length back in third. The Downbytheseaside-Charade filly led gate to wire for trainer Randy Smith and owner Amelia Smith.
Stormin Suds (Brett Miller) took the third division by 2-3/4 lengths in 1:58 for trainer Dan O’Mara and owner Marjorie Polhamus. The Lather Up-Rainy Day Chic filly trailed the leader by more than eight lengths at the quarter pole before narrowing the gap to just 2-1/2 lengths at the three-quarter mark and taking the lead entering the final stretch. Poseformiki (Justin Irvine) was second followed by Sea Jazz (Ronnie Gillespie) in third.
In Other Action
Currie and Steve Oldford were victorious in the two divisions of the Great Lakes Amateur Driving Association Trot. Currie drove Dirty Money, whom she owns and trains, to a three-quarter-length victory in 2:02.4 in the first division. Oldford won by a length with Allen Sisco trainee You Found Out in 1:57.4 in the second division for owners Oldford Racing LLC and Gale Oldford.
Amelia Smith drove Pj Lou to victory in the Terry Holton Youth Driving Series Pace in 1:54.4, finishing 3-1/4 lengths ahead of her sister, Kristina, in the sulky with Manny. Pj Lou is trained by Jessica McCown and owned by Caldwell Mamie Racing LLC.
Kristina Smith reached the winner’s circle later on, however, taking the Spring Haven Farm Ladies Driving Series Championship Pace with Big Booty Rudy by two lengths in 1:59.1. Big Booty Rudy is trained by her father, Randy, and owned by her mother, Jessica, and Amelia.
Ants Marching won the Signature Series Final Pace by a length in 1:55 with Brett Miller driving for trainer Brian Georges and owner Phillip Groves. Miller was also the winning driver in the Signature Series Consolation Pace, guiding Arbin to a half-length victory in 1:54.1 for trainer Shelby Cheadle and owner Richard Owings.
Incredible Man won the Tim Fouts Memorial Standardbred Driving Championship Pace by 11-3/4 lengths in 1:54.4 with Ronald Cusimano in the sulky for trainer Brian Brown and owner Caldwell Mamie Racing LLC.
Racing action continues on Monday with a 20-race card starting at 1 p.m. There will be a $5,000 guaranteed Pick 4 pool in Races 17-20.
(With files from the Little Brown Jug and Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association; photo of Cleveland Darby winning on Sept. 20)