by Jay Wolf, Publicity Director, for Little Brown Jug

Delaware, OH — Downbytheseaside (Chris Page) cruised to an easy victory in the second $34,500 division of the Standardbred for 2-year-old pacing colts in 1:50, breaking the world record by 1-4/5 seconds, highlighting the opening day action on Sunday (Sept. 18) at the Delaware County Fair.

Downbytheseaside serves notice he is a force to be a reckoned with as he sets a new world record of 1:50 on opening day at the Delaware County Fair.

Downbytheseaside was pushed off the gate and cleared the field of seven at the quarter-mile pole forcing Some Attitude (Peter Wrenn) to sit second and Fear The Dragon (Trace Tetrick) third. Page was allowed to set the fractions of :26.4, :54.3 and 1:21.4 and coasted home with a final quarter of :28.1 to establish the new world mark. Fear The Dragon was 4-3/4 lengths back in second. Some Attitude held on for third.

The Somebeachsomewhere-Spring Hanover freshman colt is trained by Brian Brown for Country Club Acres, Joe Sbrocco and Richard Lombardo. Another Brown trainee, Spider Man Hanover, owned the previous world record set in last year’s Standardbred.

The first division was won by a gutsy Bettor’s Pick and Kayne Kauffman in a lifetime best 1:53.4.

When the wings of the starting gate opened Cinnaber Dragon (Peter Wrenn) and Dragnet Alert (Aaron Merriman) both left hard and battled for the early lead. Dragnet Alert cleared the field past the quarter in :27.1. Bettor’s Pick was the first to challenge as the field went by the half-mile in :56.3. Dragnet Alert kept the lead past three-quarter mile marker in 1:24.4, but a game Bettor’s Pick would not be denied and scored a half-length victory over Dragnet Alert. Cinnabar Dragon held on for third.

The freshman son of Bettor’s Delight-Pure Prize is trained by Ben Davis for Brent Hooper, Kyle Gray and James Davis.

A new stakes record was established in the first $60,900 division of the Ohio Breeders Championship for freshmen pacing fillies. Bye Bye Felicia (Chris Page) scored a two-length victory over a closing Rosa’s Choice (Mike Wilder) and Zoe Ellasen (Ronnie Wrenn, Jr.) in 1:55.

The Woodstock-Tea Time lass is conditioned by Delaware’s Brian Brown for his wife Jennifer Brown, Dean Davis, Joyce McClelland and Steve Mullet. The win was Bye Bye Felicia’s fourth in eight seasonal starts.

USTA/Mark Hall photos

Bye Bye Felicia establishes a new stakes standard of 1:55 in her contest at the Delaware County Fair.

Jaye’s A Lady (Tyler Smith) scored a big upset in the second $60,900 division of the Ohio Breeders Championship at 64–1. Ellasen (Ronnie Wrenn, Jr.) and Type A Grey (Chris Page) traded the lead in the first three-quarters of a mile. Berazzled (Peter Wrenn) grabbed the lead in mid-stretch but a fast closing Jaye’s A Lady edged Berazzled by three-quarters of a length at the wire. The daughter of McArdle broke her maiden with the 1:55.3 win.

Jaye’s A Lady is owned by Caviart Farms and trained by Nancy Johansson.

Delaware also hosted a trio of amateur driving events, the USTA’s Standardbred Driving Championship and two Billings series events.

Anthony Somone, representing the Mid-Western Amateur Driving Club, went gate-to-wire with A J Corbelli to win the Standardbred Driving Championship in 1:56.2. The event features drivers from ten driving clubs from across the United States.

The Billings Amateur Trot events were won by Heza Rube (Bob Troyer) and A Crown For Lindy (Joseph Lee). The win was Troyer’s record sixth in the Billings series at the Delaware County Fair.

Post time on Monday (Sept. 19) is at 3:00 p.m.