Delaware, OH — Scrappy’s Love withstood extended pressure from LT Loverboy and scored a nose victory in the second $68,500 division of the Ohio Breeders Championship for freshman colt trotters on Tuesday (Sept. 17) at the Delaware (Ohio) County Fair.
Drive Mike Wilder used his rail position and established control of the field and fractions of :29.1 and :58.4. Nearing the half, Brett Miller pulled LT Loverboy out of the three-hole and pressured Scrappy’s Love past the three-quarters in 1:27.4. Scrappy’s Love and LT Loverboy raced in tandem the final quarter, and the two appeared to hit the line together in 1:56.2. The photo finish showed Scrappy’s Love held on.
Whats Shakin (Ronnie Gillespie) and Rose Run Ari (Austin Hanners) rounded out the top four.
Scrappy’s Love, a son of Long Tom and bred by Walter S. Fister, is owned by Gil Short and Jeffrey Bankey and trained by Chris Beaver. He has now been first or second in six of seven seasonal starts.
Battle Hill and Chris Lems benefited from a couple of opportune breaks in stride by a challenger and a leader and won the first $68,500 division.
When the gate’s wings folded, the eventual winner grabbed the lead in the first eighth of the mile and relinquished control to Hilltop Sonar (Chris Page) past the opening quarter in :28.3. As the field of eight approached the half in :58.2, Stud Muffin T (Tyler Smith) was the first to challenge Hilltop Sonar, but broke stride going to the five-eighths-mile pole. Oso Fast (David Miller) found himself first-over and applied pressure on the leader past three-quarters in 1:27.2.
As the leading Hilltop Sonar turned for home, he broke stride and was pulled inside the pylons. Battle Hill inherited the lead and victory in 1:57.1. Uncle Moneybags (Aaron Merriman) was promoted to second and Power Hill (Austin Hanners) was elevated to third.
The Marseille gelding is trained by Matthew Burkholder for William A. Hartt. He was bred by Galliers Racing.
In other stakes action on Tuesday at Delaware:
Freshman fillies shine in Buckeye Stallion Series
Two-year-old filly trotters put on a show in the fifth leg of the Buckeye Stallion Series, with four divisions each carrying a purse of $20,000.
CS Donatta Girl added another series victory to her resume in the first division. Driver Chris Lems refused to sit in the pocket with the daughter of Long Tom. Once on top, CS Donatta Girl set fractions in :29.1, 59.2 and 1:29.1. Holding off all challengers, CS Donatta Girl stopped the clock in 1:59.3, winning by a head. Long Toms Treasure (Austin Hanners) was second with Say Oui (Jeff Nisonger) third.
CS Donatta Girl has been a force in the Buckeye Stallion Series. The Scott Cox trainee has won three of the four legs she has entered. Now with six seasonal wins in eight tries, CS Donatta Girl has bankrolled $40,515 for Scott Cox Stables, Melinda Bailey and Wayne Zollars. She was bred by Melvin Detweiler.
BB’s Kanson Lady took the second division, also in wire-to-wire fashion. Directly off the gate, Kayne Kauffman urged BB’s Kanson Lady from the eighth post position and grabbed control of the field. She posted fractions in :29.3, 1:01 and 1:31 before tripping the wire in 2:01. Jurassic Jewel (Brady Clemens) finished second and In The End (Tyler Smith) rounded out the trifecta.
The victory marks the second series win for BB’s Kanson Lady. The Mister Anson filly is trained by Brian Miller. She has earned $32,116 for owner Anthony Miller. BB’s Kanson Lady was bred by Ark Farms.
Sweet Rose and Chris Page produced the fastest division of the day in 1:58. The daughter of Marseille stayed patient along the rail as fractions went up in :28.3, :57.4 and 1:27.1. Still third at the top of the stretch, Sweet Rose finally found racing room and pulled three-wide. Sweet Rose cruised home in a new lifetime mark with three lengths to spare. Jailhouse Pearl (Clemens) was second with Sudsnritz (Smith) finishing third.
Sweet Rose has notched two victories in seven lifetime starts. Trained by Matthew Burkholder, Sweet Rose has put $17,400 in the bank. Courtney Blodgett leases the filly from breeder Lori Blodgett.
Front-end speed continued to hold up in the final division. Dublins Dragonfly left from the rail post position and found herself on top of the pack. The Volstead filly set early fractions in :29.3 and 1:00 From first-up, Stars In My Crown (Smith) put a nose in front of Dublins Dragonfly while headed to the 1:30.1 three-quarter pole. Guided by Dan Noble, Dublins Dragonfly fought back in the final turn to win by a neck in 1:59.2. Despite an early miscue behind the gate, Pelican Hanover (Kurt Sugg) rallied for an impressive second-place finish and Countonluna (Daren Harvey) stayed up for third.
Virgil Morgan Jr. conditions Dublins Dragonfly. Now with two series victories, she has earned $39,226. Jesmeral Stable owns Dublins Dragonfly and Dublin Valley Farm bred the filly.
Buckeye Stallion Series action continues with freshman colt trotters and sophomore filly pacers on Wednesday (Sept. 18) at the Delaware County Fair. First race post is 11 a.m.
— with files from the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association