by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Delaware, OH — Maven trotted the fastest race mile ever on a half-mile track Thursday, winning the $125,000 Miss Versatility for older female trotters in 1:51.4 at the Delaware County Fair.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Maven trotted the fastest race mile ever on a half-mile track on Thursday at the Delaware County Fair.

Starting from post position two, Maven and driver Yannick Gingras went to the lead entering the first turn and set fractions of :26.4, :55.4 and 1:23.4 on their way to the easy victory. Bax Of Life finished second and Daylon Miracle was third.

Maven’s time set the world record for female trotters on a half-mile oval, which was lowered Wednesday to 1:53.1 by 3-year-old Frau Blucher in a division of the Buckette at Delaware. Cash Hall holds the record for the fastest mile in history, 1:51.1, which he set in a time trial at Delaware in 2006.

A 4-year-old, Maven is owned by Bill Donovan and trained by Jonas Czernyson. She has won seven of 10 races this year and earned $289,720.

“I wasn’t worried about the fractions,” said Czernyson, “but I was worried about her being on the lead since she usually isn’t.

“She is not difficult to drive but you can’t be napping when you are, because she has her own ways about her. Yannick does a great job with her.

“Today is special because it’s Jug Day and it’s another world record.”

— Kimberly French also contributed to this report