by Thom Pye, for the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association

Marysville, OH — In 1868, 31-year-old Orlando McLean Scott founded the multi-billion dollar a year lawn care company that still bears his name, yet the Union County Fair’s racetrack had already been in use for 15 years. It is no surprise then that the city of about 25,000 northwest of Columbus’ slogan is “where the grass is greener” but on Saturday (July 21) and Sunday (July 22) Marysville was the place “where the miles are faster.”

Catch-driver Pierce Henry started the parade with Steve Bateson and Jason Brewer’s JL Strikingfirefly when he took the 3-year-old filly by Winning Fireworks to a new lifetime mark of 2:03.2, by 11 lengths and trotting off in the Ohio Fair Racing Conference’s $4,673 first division.

Beau Brown steamed home in :27.4 with the Brian Brown-trained Grant Me This (by Pet Rock) in the $4,650 OFRC 3-year-old filly pace division as she defeated Moonshinecharleigh with Tylor Rush and the rest of the field with a mile in 2:01.4 over the lightning fast oval.

The Joe Paver-conditioned Always Be Special (by The Panderosa) would clip off a last panel of :28.4 as Pierce Henry took the second of his four winning mounts by 11 3/4 lengths and the 2-year-old filly captured the $9,735 OFRC purse with a new mark of 2:03.

Gail Potter’s She’s Got Pizazz with Tyler Rush got Thisisshe (David Meyer) by a neck in 2:03.4 in the $4,673 OFRC 3-year-old filly trot second division as they churned down the lane in :29.2. The race was also the Racing With The Stars fan contest and had the group straining their necks over the tight finish.

The second $4,650 OFRC division for 3-year-old pacing fillies saw Don Tiger’s Eden’s Lucky Charm (Big Bad John-Pandemonious) and driver Chris Page match the all-time track record of 1:57 as the Mike Conklin pupil won by 4-1/2 lengths over Connies Desire (Roy Burns) and Pearl Crush (Cameron McCown) and threw a last quarter of :28.2 at them.

Cody Greeno aboard Dontforgettodream (by Dontyouforgetit) trotted off by 12-1/2 lengths in 2:09.3 in the $4,853 OFRC 2-year-old filly division and when trainer Ed Greeno Jr. joined his father in the Marysville winner’s circle it was a proud and happy three-generation event.

Fans and horsemen alike were treated to a classic battle in the Paver FFA Pace when the five-horse field went to post and when the Le Van Stables Inc.’s Hanky L and Harrison Levan crossed the wire in front of Ohwigglesspecial (Chris Page) and Cabbassador (Justin Hall) the teletimer was humming a new track record of 1:56.1.

Sunday’s card offered even more quick miles when owner/trainer/driver Bud High and his 3-year-old Blasco clipped off a new lifetime tab of 2:00.2 as the Manofmanymissions gelding took the $9,120 OFRC trot by 5-1/2 lengths over Schnickle Fritz (Justin Belanger) and Jeff Nisonger aboard Bealot.

In the $3,490 OFRC 2-year-old colt pace first division, Tyler Rush got the seat behind Laura Belt’s Whatdawhat Ken Win (by Pine Valley) and battled Beau Brown and Tony Too Tall (by Big Bad John) in a crowd-pleaser as the geldings stormed home in :27.4 and stopped the watches in a new track record for 2-year-olds in 1:56.4.

Six 3-year-old colt pacers went behind the starting gate in the $4,785 OFRC first division and busted out of there as Cameron McCown rocketed Marion Beachy’s Charlie Call Home to the front end and bested Yankee L (Hank Levan) while Carmensdaleyapple (Pierce Henry) managed third in the mile in 1:57.

The $4,710 OFRC second division had Tyler Rush and the Whiskey Tango Stable’s Insane Propane winning in 1:59.2 while RJ Jetpac (Jeff Nisonger) took the third in 2:00.2.

McCown had his third win on the day and the 2018 Fair’s highest win payout as the Jimmy Lipton-trained Cams Little Man sizzled the twice-around in 1:58.3 in the 5-year-old gelding’s initial appearance of the season. You needed sunglasses on when you looked at the toteboard as Cams Little Man paid a $118.80 payoff.

Hall N Bro (by Dejarmbro) trotted a mile and then some in the $5,010 OFRC 2-year-old trot second division after an early miscue as driver Art McIlmurray picked up the field and then went on to win by 12-3/4 lengths over Mark C Adams (Duke Sugg) and Doctor Large (Scott Cisco) in 2:06. It was also the Racing with The Stars fan contest and after some anxious moments Becky Burchett happily claimed her prize package. Second-place finisher Richard Mabra had only one word as he witnessed the Dejarmbro gelding’s performance: “Damn.”

The Ladies Series had both trotting and pacing events, and both were taken by newcomer to the series Alesha Binkley with Body Of Work in 2:01.4 in the trot over JLS Too Hot Taj (Amy Wengerd) and TT’s Ebony (Patricia Still) while maneuvering He’s A Popper through a couple of close encounters in the early going. Binkley would win by 8-1/4 lengths in 1:58.3 with the Trent Stohler pupil over Divulged (Renee Baulaugh) and Lyons Gingerninja (Rhonda Patrick) as the diminutive lass is now three-for-three in the competition.

Binkley would try to stretch her winning ways in The Bouncy Ponies held after the last race as well but would be out-hopped by Harrison Levan by a long neck and her undefeated streak was snapped.

And now on to the old Seneca County Driving Park in Tiffin, Ohio.