MGM Northfield Park will host the Ohio Fair Championships Saturday evening, with a series of eight races - each worth $40,000 - that celebrates the Buckeye State’s rich network of county fair racing. The evening carries a first race post time of 6 p.m.
Highlighting the octuplet of Championships is the freshman filly trotting division where Designer Specs places her perfect 13-for-13 record on the line in the evening’s seventh race. She has drawn post two and looks to face a significant challenge from Boujee Girl (#4), who has been victorious in seven of her 12 races. Designer Specs is the even money morning-live favourite and Boujee Girl is the 3-1 second choice. Ryan Stahl has been named to drive Designer Specs for trainer Jayne Weller and owners Louise and Jay Weller of Republic, Ohio.
Three-year-old colt and gelding trotters start the series of Championships in Saturday’s third race. The division point-leader Timestorm (#4) is the 5-2 morning-line second favourite. Timestorm won 12 of 14 races last year, including an MGM Northfield Park track record performance in 1:56.4. The Kent Hess trainee had a rocky start to this year’s racing action, but quickly got on track and has scored in nine of his 14 races in 2020. Ronnie Wrenn, Jr. will be driving Timestorm for owner Ted Boschma of South Lyon, Michigan. The race favorite is (#9) Big Box Hanover and driver Jeff Nisonger. They are 9-5 on the morning line. Big Box Hanover has won nine of sixteen races this year and has banked about $20,000 more than Timestorm for trainer Dalton Walls, who co-owns the trotter with Bruce Soulsby of Powell, Ohio.
The fourth race will crown the freshman filly pacing fair champion. Lovely Munro is the 9-5 favorite from post seven. She has posted 8 wins in 12 starts for trainer Brian Brown and owner Ameer Najor of West Bloomfield, Michigan. Ryan Stahl has been named to drive. Sister Said, the field’s 9-2 third choice and earned the most points competing at the fairs this summer, scoring six times. Derrick Flowers pilots Sister Said from post three.
Omyheart is the point leader and 4-5 overwhelming favourite of the freshman trotting colt division. Jason Hanna has named Cameron McCown to drive for Michigan owners Jason Hanna and Kim Haver. Omyheart has won eight of 11 races this year and starts from post 4.
20-1 longshot Sixby Hanover leads in points for the horses entered in the freshman colt pacing division, but drew the dreaded 8-hole. This horse has won five of 14 races this year for owner Bartley Traditions Racing of Pickerington, Ohio. Trainer Jimmy Lupton has named Mike Wilder to drive. The 5-2 race favourite is #3 Cyclone Union Jack and driver Arron Merriman. This freshman has also posted five wins this year. His wins have all come in his last six races, which also includes a loss by a nose at the Delaware County Fair.
Next, bettors will be watching the sophomore pacing fillies square-off as point leader Tiny Bit Of Sky is a 12-1 morning-line longshot. She just finished second, beaten a nose, in a $17,500 Buckeye Stallion Series event at the Delaware County Fair. Tiny Bit Of Sky has won seven of 21 races this year for owners Tommy and Andrea Householder of Delaware, Ohio. Trainer Russell Early III has given the driving assignment to Aaron Merriman. Shehitthehighnote is the 3-1 luke-warm favourite. She was a dead-heat winner at MGM Northfield Park in her most recent outing. Hunter Myers will drive for trainer Jeff Nisonger and owner Thomas Radominski of Dayton, Ohio.
Sophomore trotting fillies take to stage in the evening’s ninth race. Electric Ridge has drawn post-2. She is the point leader in this division and is the 9-5 prohibitive favourite. Electric Ridge has won six of 18 races this year for her trainer Chris Beaver, who owns the filly with partners J. Gallagher, Moger-Delia Racing and S. Zeehandeler. Aaron Merriman has been named to drive.
Three year-old colt pacers compete in the final championship of the evening in the 10th race on the 16-race program. Point leader Sweet Oliver drew the rail but is a 25-1 morning-line longshot. Ed Hennessy with drive the colt for trainer Sandra Hennessy, who co-owns with Paula Sugars. Sweet Oliver has won eight of 13 races this year, including three of his last four starts. The 2-1 race favourite is #5 Mr Ds Rock, who has posted five victories in 19 tries this season. He is trained by Brian Loney for the owning partnership of T. Carter, D. Carsey, SCP Stables and P. Carter. Ronnie Wrenn, Jr. will be his driver.
(Northfield Park)