Speedbewithyou scored a 62-1 upset in the second $86,761 Ohio Breeders Championship (OBC) division for three-year-old filly trotters on a damp, windy afternoon on Monday, Sept. 21 at the Delaware County Fair.
The top two bettors' choices, Mooter Tooter (Chris Page) and Chip Shot (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.), battled for early command of the field of seven. Mooter Tooter led through splits of :30.3, 1:01.1 and 1:31.3 over the surface rated sloppy.
The leader started to tire, and the challengers started to bunch up around the final turn. Driver/trainer Ken Holliday sent the eventual winner wide off cover, and Speedbewithyou drew off by two lengths over a pocket-sitting Chip Shot to prevail in 2:01.4. Guardian Doll (Ronnie Gillespie) rallied for third.
The winning Mission Accepted-Instinct filly is co-owned by Greg Luther Racing LLC and breeder David Wills. Speedbewithyou is now five-for-26 lifetime. The win return was $127.60.
In the first division, Sarahs Mission (Chris Page) used a gate-to-wire effort from post six to record the 1:59.1 win. After the pacesetter put up :29.4, 1:00 and 1:30.1 panels, Readi Two (Hugh Beatty) made a late bid but came up a neck short. Seven Lick Range (Tyler Smith) was third.
Sarahs Mission scored her sixth win from 25 lifetime outings. Ron Burke trains the homebred Mission Accepted-Petey Sarah filly. Burke Racing Stable LLC, Knox Services Inc. and Weaver Bruscemi LLC share ownership. She paid $3.20 to win.
Brett Miller and Envious Queen used a four-wide move around the final turn and got by the heavily favoured Made For More by a head to win the $197,606 OBC for two-year-old trotting fillies.
Steady Mind (Ken Holliday) led the bulky field of 10 past the opening quarter in :29.2 and half in 1:00.2. As they trotted down the backstretch the second time, Made For More (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) flushed Rose Run Cybill (Kurt Sugg) off the rail before the three-quarters in 1:31.1.
Made For Money went three-wide and Envious Queen four-wide in the far turn and motored to finish in the top two positions, with Envious Queen eclipsing her rival in the final strides of the 2:02 mile. Rose Run Cybill held on for third.
Steve Carter trains the winning Long Tom-Royal Envy filly and co-owns her with Hatfield Stables and Cass Gallagher. Envious Queen has three wins in eight starts. She paid $23.80 to win.
Buckeye Stallion Series
The Delaware County Fair hosted seven $28,169 divisions of the fifth leg of the Buckeye Stallion Series (BSS) for filly trotters — four for freshmen and three for sophomores — on the 20-race card.
Rose Run Celine (Ken Holliday) won the fourth division for two-year-olds in gate-to-wire fashion, finishing in 2:04 for her sixth consecutive victory. Been Thru Hill (Carson Conrad) was one length back in second followed by On A Clear Day (Justin Irvine) in third. Rose Run Caviar put up panels of :30.2, 1:01.4 and 1:33 on the way to her sixth win in 10 starts, raising her bankroll to $44,542. The winning Triumphant Caviar-Rose Run Keepsake filly is trained by Todd Luther for owner Greg Luther Racing LLC. She paid $8.60 to win.
Flirtin Tomi (Trevor Smith) recorded the fastest mile among the three races for sophomores, winning the first division by 1-1/4 lengths in 2:00.1 to highlight a training triple for Herman Hagerman. The Long Tom-Flirtin Flare filly was in fourth place at the halfway mark but took the lead going to the three-quarter pole en route to the victory. Ranger Rosie (Tyler Smith) was second followed by Til The End As (Chris Page) in third. Flirtin Tomi is a two-time BSS winner this season, adding this victory to one from the fourth leg at Eldorado Scioto Downs. She races for owners Jay and Joseph Burkholder.
Hagerman also won with Guardian Queen in 2:03.3 in an Ohio Fair Racing Conference division and Dublins Delilah in an identical clocking in a Buckeye Claiming Series contest. Both were driven by Tyler Smith.
Dublins Breanna (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) also scored a second seasonal BSS victory, winning the second division for sophomores by 3-1/2 lengths in 2:01.1 to add to her triumph in the fourth leg. Lynn Range (Tyler Smith) led at the first two calls, but it was Dublins Breanna out front the rest of the way. Lynn Range and Lucky Lady Volo (Mike Wilder) rounded out the top three finishers. Dublins Breanna, a daughter of Enterprise-Brimfull, is trained by Vernon Beachy for owners 518 Group LLC and Ryan Smith.
Dream Of Charlotte (Wilder) dominated the third three-year-old division, winning by 13-1/2 lengths in 2:01.1. The Uncle Peter-Dream Of Royalty filly was in second place at the midway point but stretched a three-length lead at the three-quarter pole to eight lengths entering the final stretch. Princess Karolyn (Sam Widger) and Bobbie Mac (Aaron Merriman) rounded out the top three. Dream Of Charlotte is trained by Bill Rhoades for owner Braiden Rhoades.
Of the four races for freshmen, Mitey Lil (Kurt Sugg) recorded the fastest mile, winning the first division by half a length in 2:03. Perfect Instead (Anthony MacDonald) was second followed by Atm Fees (Austin Hanners) in third. Mitey Lil is a Daren Harvey trainee owned by Wayne Mast Jr., Johns Racing Stable and Callam Racing LLC. The Volstead-Super Lily filly was also a winner in the first leg of the BSS earlier this season at Scioto Downs.
Sugg was also the winning driver in the second division, guiding Sweet Stevie to her third BSS victory of the season.Trained by Sugg, the Global Republic S-Jogging Sweets filly led gate to wire en route to the two-length victory in 2:04.2. Hill Express (Tyler Smith) was second followed by Wishinghallofchina (Widger) in third. Also a winner in the third and fourth legs of the BSS at Northfield Park and Scioto Downs, respectively, Sweet Stevie is owned by Rebecca Sugg, Ashley Miller and Edward Miller.
Aunt Jessie (Austin Hanners) took the third division by 2-3/4 lengths in 2:04.2. The Action Uncle-Jessiesexpresslane filly led gate to wire to take to her second BSS win of the season. Rose Run Classy (Sugg) and Lady Martinique (Tyler Smith) rounded out the top three. Also a winner in the fourth leg of the BSS, Aunt Jessie is trained by Leroy Eicher for owner Lavern Hostetler.
In Other Action
Looks Like Moni (Anthony MacDonald) won the Signature Series Trot Final in 2:00.3 for trainer Jason McGinnis and owner Thestable Looks Like Moni.
Lane Of Stone (Jeff Nisonger) took the Signature Series Trot Consolation in 2:01.3 for trainer Mark Winters and owner Harry Horowitz Estate.
Racing continues Tuesday at the Delaware County Fair with a 21-race card, starting at 1 p.m. The card features a $5,000 guaranteed Pick 4 pool along with more OBC and BSS action.
(With files from the Little Brown Jug and Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association)