Grove City, OH – Hunka Hunka recorded his fourth Buckeye Stallion Series victory of the season while The Ebony Dragon and Stoke The Fire scored their third as the Delaware County Fair hosted four $20,000 divisions of the fifth leg of the BSS for freshman colt pacers in the 22-race card Wednesday (Sept. 17) on Jugette Day, the fourth day of its five-day meet in Delaware, Ohio.
Hunka Hunka (Chris Page) won the second division of Wednesday’s BSS for 2-year-old colt pacers in 1:54. The Catch The Fire colt led wire to wire and won by over two lengths, posting fractions of :28.1, :57.4, and 1:25.4. Barcelona Legend (Darren Dowler) was second followed by Hong Kong Phooey (Sam Widger) in third. Hunka Hunka also scored BSS wins in the first, third, and fourth legs in 1:56, 1:55.4, and 1:52.3, respectively. The Daren Harvey trainee has hit the board in eight of nine seasonal starts with six wins and has $52,074 in earnings. He is owned by Wayne Mast Jr., Eden Acres Farmstead, Steven Miller, and Harvey.
“It’s a thrill,” Harvey said after the win. “He’s really progressed throughout the year. We got the Buckeye final with him, and we can’t be more grateful for that.”
The Ebony Dragon (Luke Hanners) recorded the fastest mile among the four divisions, winning the fourth division in 1:53.1. His other BSS wins this season came in the second and fourth legs in 1:52.3 and 1:53, respectively. The Fear The Dragon colt led wire to wire, stretching a one-length lead at the half to five lengths at the line. He posted fractions of :27.2, :56.4, and 1:25. Odds On Rpj (Dexter Dunn) was second with Heerzadiamondstud (Cameron McCown) in third. Trained by Tyler Bates, The Ebony Dragon has hit the board in 14 of 15 seasonal starts with 11 wins and $58,922 in earnings. He is owned by Suzanne Bates and Cedar Point Beach Racing.
Stoke The Fire (Chris Lems) won the first division in 1:53.4. His prior BSS victories this season came in the second and third legs in 1:53.1 and 1:56, respectively. Thunder Nation (Kurt Sugg) took the lead off the gate and remained in front at the first three calls with fractions of :27.2, :56.2, and 1:25. After taking the pocket trip, Stoke The Fire moved outside to challenge the leader as Tsunami Seas (Dunn) made it three wide. Stoke The Fire edged Tsunami Seas by a neck with Thunder Nation finishing third. The Catch The Fire gelding is trained by Scott Cox for owner Jonas Hershberger and lessee Terri Mt. Pleasant. He has hit the board in six of seven seasonal starts with four wins and two seconds and $42,440 in earnings.
Canadian driver Trevor Henry scored his first career win at the Delaware County Fair, driving Legends Rule to victory in the third division in 1:53.4. It was the first win for the Bit Of A Legend N gelding, who was making his third career start. He is trained by Randy Marriage and has $10,584 in earnings. He led wire to wire, posting fractions of :27.4, :57.2, and 1:25.3, and won by a length over Rock Son (Page) with Cipher (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) finishing third. He is owned by Richard McGlynn.
In Other Action
Reallyrukiddingme took a wire-to-wire victory in the first of two divisions of the Ohio Fair Racing Conference for 3-year-old filly pacers in a lifetime-best 1:55.1 with Austin Hanners driving for trainer Dan Venier. The Racing Hill filly won by a head, increasing her career earnings to $64,723. She has hit the board in 26 of 30 lifetime starts with 12 wins, 10 seconds, and four thirds.
In a photo finish, Sectionline Flame (Emanuel Miller) edged Friskie Mary (Trevor Smith) by a nose to win the second division in a lifetime-best 1:55.2. The Herman Hagerman trainee left from the second tier in post 10 en route to earning her fifth career victory. The Catch The Fire filly has $75,214 in lifetime earnings.
Page won two of the four divisions of the Ohio Fair Racing Conference for freshman colt pacers, taking I’llbetyourboots and Racing Perfection to the winner’s circle.
I’llbetyourboots, a winner in the Next Generation and three legs of the Ohio Sires Stakes this season, led wire to wire in winning the third division by almost two lengths in 1:56.2. Trained by Ron Burke, the Summa Cum Laude gelding has hit the board in seven of nine seasonal starts with six wins and $163,860 in earnings.
Racing Perfection took the second division, scoring his first career victory in wire-to-wire fashion in 1:54.2. The Racing Hill gelding is trained by Jayne Weller. He has earnings of $5,815 in seven starts.
Prolific Blend was another wire-to-wire winner, taking the first division in 1:53.4, which was the fastest mile among the four divisions. Greg Luther drove for trainer Todd Luther. It was the first career win for the Downbytheseaside gelding, increasing his earnings to $74,300.
After leaving from the second tier in post nine, Theetown Mailman won the fourth division in a lifetime-best 1:57 with Ronnie Gillespie in the sulky for trainer Craig Bowman. The Well Said gelding edged Keene Finale by a neck at the line for his ninth career victory in 13 starts, increasing his earnings to $25,595.
The five-day Delaware County Fair meet concludes Thursday (Sept. 18) with a 20-race card starting at 11 a.m. The card is highlighted by two $50,000 Little Brown Jug eliminations leading up to the $500,000 Little Brown Jug final. The card also includes the $103,500 Old Oaken Bucket and $81,400 Buckette, and the $95,000 Ms. Versatility final. Catch all the racing coverage on the OHHA YouTube channel and Facebook page as well as HarnessRacingOhio.com.