by Thom Pye, for OHHA

Northfield, Ohio — Saturday’s (Oct. 20) Ohio Fair finals at Northfield bring a cornucopia of talent – both horse and human – to the lightning fast oval located 19 miles south of Cleveland for the eight $25,000 contests.

The leading point earners in each class have cumulative 2018 earnings of over $2 million and three of the top five winningest drivers in North America call Ohio home base. Aaron Merriman, Ronnie Wrenn Jr. and Dan Noble will take the reins behind a number of horses as the 2-and 3-year-olds look to give the fans a tip of the hat to their season.

The evening’s first contest is led by This Years Best, a 3-year-old filly trotter with 12 wins and better than $47,000 in 2018 earnings as she defends against 10-time winning Bellesvictorysong, Bugs MVP and five others.

Two-year-old filly trotters are showcased in race number two when Ilianora (Broadway Hall), sporting a tab of 1:59.3h, parades with Trotslikenoother (Uncle Peter) and So Romantic (My MVP) in the field of seven.

Ten-time winner Officially My Way (by Art Official), Ambitious Lillian, an 11-time victor by Big Bad John, and Cookies Empire (Pet Rock) take the seven 2-year-old filly pacers to task in the evening’s third race.

Race four’s 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings has Frontloader (by Uncle Peter) looking for an upset over 10-time winning Bat Chip Crazy (Manofmanymissions) and Hall N Bro (Dejarmbro) already a winner in 1:58.1 over a twice-around.

The night’s fifth race is a matchup between 1:55h pacer Thundering Jim (Woodstock) Tanner J (Believeinbruiser) and Mr Judge (Dragon Again) in a very competitive field of eight 2-year-old colts and geldings.

Manny L, with his 2018 earnings just shy of $60,000, hopes to stave off Crewshilltopper and TC’s Happy Times and five other 3-year-old colt and gelding trotters in the sixth.

It’s a toss up in the seventh when Talkaboutaqueen, Crazy K, 13-time winner VH Princess Brea and five more 3-year-old filly pacers square off once again.

The Pacing For The Cure eighth race has nine of our Ohio lady drivers doing battle for a great cause as Lunatic Fringe, JJ’s Doughnut and Davinci Artist hope to take over the tote board.

The fair finals will come down to a neck-stretcher in the ninth when 3-year-old colts and geldings knock head-to-head and nose-to-nose between Cass Delight Rock, Long Train Runnin, and Rockin M in the very select group of eight pacers.

It’s a full night of a 16-race program at Northfield.