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

Hilliard, OH — The 101st Franklin County (Ohio) Fair offered two days of Home Talent Colt Stakes as everyone involved aimed to make it an enjoyable time for all.

Originally called Hilliard’s Station when civil engineer John Reed Hilliard bought ten acres of land along the Piqua & Indiana Railroad line in 1852 and put three boxcars together for a depot, the city has become a fashionable suburb of 36,000 just west of Columbus and has long been home to dedicated harness horsemen.

And on Sunday’s (July 15) 10-race card the gears were turning fast in the very first race as the Terry Deters-trained United Bi with Jeff Nisonger in the sulky (the first of three winning drives on the day) captured the Old Hilliard Open Trot with a mile in 1:59.4 besting Herbie L (Harrison Levan) and Ten Yard Penalty (Craig Fletcher) in a competitive eight-horse field.

In the HTCS $3,799 division for 2-year-old pacing fillies it was Black Magic Racing’s Rose Run Ultimate giving Ken Holliday the start of a training and driving triple when the lass by Western Vintage took her initial lifetime win over Oh Miss Rylee (Cameron McCown) and Rockin Megan L (Hank Levan) in 2:01.4.

Holliday grabbed the second division with Going To Win (by Pet Rock) in 2:03.1 and the Bret Swartz pupil Bad Leading Lady (by Big Bad John) annexed the third in 2:01.2 by four lengths when Cameron McCown guided her through an awesome last three-quarters in 1:28.4 as she just lived on the outside.

The Ohio Ladies Pace Series put together two wicked good miles when Mandy Jones and Alwaysagoodthing pried the first division away in 2:00.1 from Jamie Coffy aboard Pow Chicka Pow Pow and Amy Eubank’s Art Degree.

In the second battle it was Amy Wengerd making her debut with Moreland Flash and she sent the 12-year-old gelding down the road in his 313th lifetime start to grab the win in 1:58.2 over an intense pursuit by Insane In Spain (Ulrika Karlsson) and Sharp Shuttle with Mary Birkhold.

The $5,065 HTCS first division for 3-year-old pacing fillies had Jeff Nisonger steering co-owner Ken Roebuck and trainer Brian Roebuck’s Check On The Way (by Believeinbruiser) to a mile in 1:59 over Anotherprettyface and Trevor Smith. Luke Ebersole and Dazzlin Dragon garnered third.

It was also the Racing With The Stars fan contest which produced the youngest winner yet after 3-year-old Selina M. drew “Checkers” and the rail. As a proud papa accompanied her to the winner’s circle he smiled and said proudly, “She knows how to pick them, doesn’t she?”

For added entertainment the track personnel put together a unique Bouncy Pony contest as it was held in two divisions of four-member relay teams that were comprised of very game Fair Board directors, 4 H members, and Fair royalty. Before the determined and eager participants began as they sat bouncing playfully on the ponies, one princess was advised that she’d “Better tighten her tiara; it’s not as easy as it looks.”

Lots of laughs, cheers, and applause before the champions were finally crowned.

On Monday (July 16) the track responded to the constant care and manicuring as five out of the nine races beat 2:00.

Cameron McCown had the first of his four winning mounts when he drew off by 8-1/4 lengths with Lisa Snyder’s colt Deena’s Lil John (by Big Bad John) in the $5,099 HTCS 2-year-old colt pace first division.

The second division was grabbed by Hunter Myers aboard the Ron Steck-trained Me And Mrs Jones (by Pet Rock) who came a good last half off the pacesetter’s slow early fractions.

Levan Stable and driver Harrison Levan’s Manny L (by Manofmanymissions) won the $5,032 HTCS division for 3-year-old trotting colts in 1:59.3 while James Shipley’s Twighlight Twist (by Dejarmbro) and Ryan Holton aired by 18 for trainer Doug Rine in 1:59.4.

Mcharry L (McArdle-Just Say So) with Harrison Levan upset favorite Adios Man and Trevor Smith in the first $5,032 HTCS 3-year-old colt pace in 1:59.

The second HTCS had all the whistles and bells going full steam when trainer/co-owner Bret Schwartz, Stephen Sexton, and Ada Jacobs’ Cass Delight Rock (Pet Rock-Amber Delight) ground it out against Ohio Prince and Ken Holliday before taking the mile in 1:56.4. Hunter Myers and Drinka Beer was a close third.