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

Columbus, OH — The Ohio Fair championship was held on Saturday night (Oct. 7) at Northfield Park and it showed that it was the place to be.

The old adage of “if you’re the best, the best place to be is on the front-end” rang true as in seven of the eight $25,000 finals the winners cut the mile. And there was a lot of action during the mile and they all had to earn it the hard way as there were numerous challenges along the way.

Momentsoffire had her moments in the OFC 2-year-old filly trot but the Kurt Sugg trained and driven daughter of Winning Fireworks put away outsiders Rose Run Ida (Ryan Holton) and Man The Keg (Scott Altizer) and drew off to win by five lengths in a new lifetime mark of 2:00.1h when it mattered the most.

Beau Brown’s Sweetnfamous and Chris Page dealt with Talented Mind (Daren Harvey) and Good Lookin Woman (Derik Watiker) as the 2-year-old by Yankee Cruiser took her OFC division by two over nine other talented fillies in a quick 1:57.4h. It was her seventh win in 12 starts in 2017.

A mile in 1:58.3h was needed by Susan Daugherty’s Rising MVP with Chris Page aboard as the William Daugherty Jr.-trainee won by three over Cheer The Storm with Tyle Loy and CC Bank (Ryan Stahl) as the My MVP gelding bagged his ninth victory of the season. It pushed the 2-year-old trotter’s earnings to just shy of $65,000 for the year.

It was a battle the whole mile and Jeff Nisonger took no prisoners in the 2-year-old colt final as Pacin To Paydaze was pressed to a new lifetime tab. When the teletimer flashed 1:54.4h, the Mark Winters Sr. altered son of World Of Rocknroll had rocked Joe Paver’s star pupil, the 16-for-16 Carmensdaleyapple with Pierce Henry from the eight hole, and handed him his first taste of defeat as he finished fourth. Ucan Wait And See (Jimmy Smith) and Ohio Prince (Ken Holliday) got up for second and third in the mile.

There was a little bit of Christmas cheer when Ronnie Wrenn Jr. teamed Chris Beaver’s Joyfulandtriumphant to a seven length triumph in 1:59.1h in the 3-year-old filly trot final as Just Friend (Jimmy Smith) and Miss Lorelei (Ryan Holton) joined the daughter of Triumphant Caviar on the board.

Dekeyser, Chris Beaver, Synerco Ventures Inc., and Steven Zeehandeler’s 3-year-old son by Dejarmbro, hoisted his trophy in the trotting final as he grabbed his 14th victory of 2017 by three in 1:56.2h over Sweet Honey (Don McKirgan) and De La Creme and Ryan Holton. Aaron Merriman guided him to the winner’s share of the $25,000 purse that added to his seasonal earnings of more than $98,000.

When the 3-year-old pacing fillies busted off the gate, Kurt Sugg had Robert Cobin’s Da Vinci Artist on the front end but the Art Official lass was denied her 15th win of 2017 by Ryan Stahl with an up and challenging Only Live Once as the Scott Cox-conditioned lady kicked in a last quarter of :28.2 and wrestled the award from the favorite by three-quarters of a length. Grandrose with Jason Merriman got up for the show position.

The 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings OFC finale lived up to its hype as Aaron Merriman hopped behind Billy Emmons’ Mcspidey for the first time and steered the Phil Goldwater-trainee McArdle gelding to a four length personal best of 1:53.1h over Official Delight (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) and Dancin Fever (Robin Miller).