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

Marion, OH — With temperatures in the mid-80s and a full card of 17 races on Monday (July 2) the excitement at the Marion County (Ohio) Fair was as promised.

In the Ohio Fair Racing Conference $2,442 first division that was won by Yorkshire Pacers Stud Farm’s Hard Rock Gal, announcer Ayers Ratliff would call a new track record as the horses returned to the winner’s circle at Marion. The Jeff Ebersole-trained/Luke Ebersole-driven daughter of Pet Rock led the seven other lasses to the wire in a time of 2:03.3 for her initial lifetime victory and track record for 2-year-old filly pacers.

It was George Mijal’s Believe In Waco (Believeinbruiser) and Art McIlmurray stepping off to a new track record for 3-year-old filly pacers as the Steve Novak-conditioned distaffer defeated Grant Me This (Beau Brown) and Betty’s Legacy (Jeff Nisonger) in 2:01.3.

Christopher Beaver’s pupil Bugs MVP with Cameron McCown would regain the form that had put more than $60,000 on her dance card as the 3-year-old by My MVP trotted to a new track record with her mile in 2:02.1 and rewarded her followers with a $31 win payoff.

The combo of Jeff and Luke Ebersole in the second OFRC division for 2-year-old filly pacers put Linda Ebersole’s Flight Seveneleven (Panspacificflight) in the win column with a mile in 2:04.2 and on the board with a ticket of $61.40 to her supporters.

Don Tiger’s Eden’s Lucky Charm (Big Bad John-Pandemonious) and Kurt Sugg stopped the timer in 2:00.3 in her division as she established another new track record for 3-year-old pacing fillies over Crazy K and Rei’s Honor Roll and the rest of the field.

The 2-year-old filly pacers’ third division gave Bet You I’m Rockin (Rockin Armadeus) a new lifetime mark as well as a new track record as the Todd Luther-trained and driven lass went an impressive mile of 2:02.3 over Vintage Gal and Bigbadaffair.

But then Mother Nature tried to put a damper on the festivities when the skies opened and the downpour came. A strong breeze picked up and moved a few things around but it calmed down after a few minutes.

After a rain delay of just about an hour the horses were back on the track that was now rated two seconds off but that didn’t stop Cameron McCown from scoring his third win of the day as he brought Mark Yoder’s Bubba Delight to victory in the Tom Criswell FFA pace and returned $18.80 to the fans.

Ed Hennessey took the fourth OFRC 2-year-old filly division when he brought the Sandra Hennessey-trained Atlantic Star (Cheyenne Rei) home over Rosies Apple (Pierce Henry) and posted a $28 win price for her maiden score.

The Marion Beachy-owned/Chris Beaver-conditioned Diablu Lady (Western Vintage) was in the 17th and last race of the day and the 2-year-old filly win easily over her seven rivals as BJ Roberts steered her into the winner’s circle.

The fans enjoyed Text Trivia throughout the day and R.C. Kendall made the 75-mile pilgrimage from Portage, Ohio, a winning one as he took the top prize home in the Racing With The Stars contest after he drew the eventual race victor Eden’s Lucky Charm.

More action and fun to come on Tuesday (July 3) with an 11 a.m. post time for the 14 races. Maybe another “new track record” will be heard echoing over the fairgrounds once again.