Circleville, Oh –  When Sunday’s (June 16) 10-race card was washed out due to heavy overnight rains, the Pickaway County Fair hosted 22 races with a split program starting at noon on Monday (June 17).

The resilient surface was worked and screened and kept in tip-top shape by a determined track crew. The results produced some nice miles for the 2 and 3-year-old fillies and colts for the Ohio Colt Racing Association.

The Steve Carter-trained Homer Hall (Broadway Hall) and Ryan Holton clipped a mile in 2:03 as he trotted off by two over Secret Jet (Derek Wattiker) and Roger Hughes’ Forgotten Treasure.  Ken Holiday took Black Magic Racing LLC’s, So Romantic  (My MVP) to a seven-length win in 2:03.4.

The 3-year-old Dejambro gelding Bridge Works, owned by Don Tiger and trained by Sophie Desroches, trotted a mile in 2:02 for Chris Page, as they held Bully Boy (Kyle Ater) at bay by three-quarters of a length.

DeWayne Minor got the call aboard Pasko Vucinaj’s 3-year-old filly by Tom Cango, Triple Seven Seven and trotted her $4,886 OCRA division to a win in 2:07.

Opening up by nine in the $3,533 OCRA two-year-old filly second division was Dream Change (Winning Fireworks) as Ken Holliday and the Pamela Young-trainee glided home in 2:08.4 for owner Big Dog Racing of Thornville, Ohio.

The third OCRA 2-year-old filly division saw trainer Jeff Smith steer Walter Fister’s Hometown Honey (Manofmanymissions) to a three-length win in 2:07.4, as Team L (Hank Le Van) and Susie D (Bryan Weaver) gave chase.

Chris Page piloted his third win on the delayed day with Mary Dawson’s 10-year-old Bettorseeitmyway pacing to a five-length triumph for the 53rd time in his career. The Le Van Stables’ 9-year-old iron horse Hanky L, zinged into the winner’s circle as Harrison Le Van said “see you later” to Ufpfortydevensgirl (Matt Aman) and Playing Favorites (Jessica Smith) who was third in 2:00.4.

After a two-hour break between programs, there were darkening skies. It never deterred Penpaperpaige (Pet Rock) with Tyler Smith behind her as the 2-year-old filly pacer wowed the fans with a mile in 2:02.1, and posted a final panel of :28.3 in her very first appearance before a crowd. It was the first of Tyler Smith’s driving triple on the evening as he took Officially My Way and Dirty Ruby to victory lane as well.

Equally as impressive was T Degengold (Pet Rock) and Jeff Nisonger as she took the second OCRA division in a quick 2:02.2, by stepping a final quarter of :28.3 to hold off Bigrisk Cruiser (Bigrisk) and Dan Noble by three-quarters of a length. Nisonger would grab a hat trick too, navigating LMN Bred Stables’ Mae Be Magic (Dragon Again) and Thomas Radominski’s Nob Hill High 2-year-old lass Shehitthehighnote in 2:05.2, despite a rain-soaked hour-long delay.

The Spring Haven Farm Ladies Driving series squared off in the 10th and Jazmin Arnold and Why Don’t U Stay kept newcomer Elizabeth Murphy at her wheel with Emily and Colton Hay’s Royal Delta in 2:05 over the off-track.

It was the Ladies Drive Against Hunger that benefited The Haven House of Pickaway County and the Circleville horsemen who should be acknowledged for their generosity.

The 2019 finale was the Steamin Demon Pace, which produced the fastest mile of the fair when the Gregory Forcum-trained 8-year-old gelding Blooming Genius, driven by Shawn Barker II, grabbed the winner’s share of the $8,500 purse by way of a rain-soaked time of 1:59, as Ashlee’s Four Star (Matt Amann) and Princeofrocknroll (Scott Cisco) rounded out the top three. It was a good mile especially on a sloppy surface, with a two-second allowance.

The evening’s Racing With The Stars fan contest showed just how family tradition is kept alive at Circleville as we chatted with the people who entered: Nell and Bob Stider who have been in Circleville for 35 years and have been married for 61 years.

When offered congratulations Bob quipped “don’t make it sound like it was easy” as Nell just raised her eyebrows with a smile.