Eight Ohio Fairs Championships for two and three-year-old Ohio-bred colt and filly trotters and pacers are set to vie Thursday night (October 1) at Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway.
Each Championship features eight or nine contestants, and the card holds a first-race post time of 6:35 p.m. (ET).
Ohio-bred freshman and sophomores were made eligible to the series on March 15 of this year by their connections and subsequently garnered points by racing in any Ohio Fairs Stakes through September 24, 2015. The nine highest point-earning horses in each division were then eligible for the Championships.
The two-year-old trotting filly Dominating Dora will be trying for career win 13 and her fifth consecutive victory for driver Roy Burns and trainer-owner Ronald Wulber in her $15,200 Championship (Race 3). Bred by Harry Yoder, the daughter of His Highness-Impeding Hanover has $31,121 in her career coffers, and was the top point getter (699) in the division.
Rockin Lisa, a daughter of Woodstock-Racy Deb, rocked her freshman filly pacing division, leading with 355 points. Trained by Ammon Hershberger for Johnny Kearns of Cardington, OH, the winner of $17,835 in her career will have Jonas Hershberger in the sulky (Race 4) as she tries for career win No. 6, vying for $15,400. Rockin Lisa was bred by Ronald C. Hunwick Farms.
Sammy Star leads all three-year-old Ohio-bred trotting fillies with 514 points in this series for trainer Steve Carter, who conditions the daughter of Victory Sam-Star Sneakers for Ohio-partnership of Carter, Reid, Hummel and Beard. Bred by Midland Acres, Sammy Star has career earnings of $109,739 from 15 lifetime triumphs. She’ll face Loft Chip (second in the standings with 413 points) and Id Rather Walk (third in the standings with 407 points) in her $15,000 Championship (Race 5).
The four highest point earners battle in the $15,000 Championship (Race 6) for three-year-old pacing fillies. Juanita L, a daughter of Mantacular-Beach Sandals has earned $44,688 this season and has $64,630 lifetime for owner-breeder Melissa LeVan of Woodstock, OH. Conditioned by Herb LeVan and driven by Roy Burns, Juanita L has amassed 817 points this year with nine wins, 11 seconds and three thirds in 27 starts. She’ll face off against Playa Del Sol (second, with 664 points); Western Luann (third, with 552 points) and Happy Jude (fourth, with 486 points).
Trainer Ed Greeno Jr. will send out a formidable pair in the $15,200 freshman trotting colt and gelding Championship (Race 7). Top point getter (525) Tom Adonno has earnings of $29,787 from eight wins, three thirds and three seconds in 14 starts this season. The son of Tom Cango was bred by John Hubbell and is owned jointly by the Findlay, OH partnership of Eg Trot LLC, John Arnold and James Paul. Stablemate Mr Timely Dunn is the seventh highest point earning (274), with $15,164 in career earnings with a 2-4-4 record from 13 starts. The son of Neely Dunn was bred by Tom Schmucker of Indiana.
The nine highest point earners in the two-year-old pacing colt and gelding $15,400 Championship (Race 8) will line up behind the gate, with Canadias Bakin (580 points) leading the way from Post 2. Trained by Steve Carter for Ohio-partners Grubbs, Reid, Hummel and Beard, the son of Big Bad John-Canadia has 10 wins to his credit this season and a trio of seconds in 16 career starts, with earnings of $24,343. Dashing Dubby (second, with 393 points), will start from Post 4 for Kyle Ater and trainer-owner-breeder John Fitzgerald. The son of Feelin Friskie has finished no worse than second in his last five starts and sports a $17,331 bankroll from just 10 starts this season with six wins and three thirds.
Crowned With Glory is the clear standout in the three-year-old trotting $15,000 Championship (Race 9), as the son of His Highness-Hey Kelsi has amassed 791 points in this competition. Findlay, Ohio-partners Eg Trot LLC, John Arnold, MH Mallett and James Paul own the brown gelding, who has added $57,960 to his coffers this season from 15 wins – pushing his career earnings to $115,238. Bred by Harry Yoder, Crowned With Glory has been a model of consistency this season and has the coveted rail position, with his trainer driving.
Ohio Sires Stakes and Ohio Breeders Championship winner Nobles Finesse will be looking to notch his 11th victory of the season and 14th career win for trainer-driver Kurt Sugg. The son of Feelin Friskie will be trying for his fourth consecutive victory in the $15,000 Championship (Race 10) for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings. Bred by the late Sam Noble, III, Nobles Finesse is owned by Ohio’s Dean Davis, Joyce McClelland and Mullet Stables, and has seasonal earnings of $149,108 and a lifetime bankroll of $249,867. To date, he’s scored multiple Ohio Fair Stakes triumphs, including a victory on September 27 at Dover Downs in 1:59. Nobles Finesse is fourth in his division with 357 points.
Rival and top point getter (601) Nashville Bound will be trying for seasonal victory 12 for trainer Eric Hamlet and driver Ronnie Wrenn, Jr. from Post 8. The son of Strong Player-Tork has $68,000 in seasonal earnings from 11 wins, seven seconds and one third in 26 starts. Bred by Marvin Miller, Nashville Bound is owned by Lori Hamlet of Northfield, Ohio. He last finished second to the aforementioned Nobles Finesse in that Ohio Fair Stake at Dover.
(Dayton Raceway)