by Thom Pye, for OHHA

Columbus, OH — It is the Ohio Fair finals (OFC) at Northfield Park this Saturday (Oct. 7) as the Ohio-bred juvenile stars do battle for the title of champion in eight $25,000 divisions as over 70 talented 2- and 3-year-old pacers and trotters go behind the gate with a 6 p.m. post time.

In the evening’s second race, the OFC 2-year-old filly trot, position will play a decisive roll as Rose Run Ida, with Ryan Holton in the sulky from post seven, has the outside while Man The Keg and Scott Altizer with post nine, score from the second tier. They both could be at the mercy of rail-sitting Momentsoffire if Kurt Sugg gets to command the fractions.

Photo courtesy of OHHA

Eight $25,000 divisions of the Ohio Fair finals will be conducted on Saturday evening.

The nine OFC 2-year-old filly pacers has the three main contenders leaving from the middle of the pack as eight-time winner Talented Mind (Darren Harvey) does battle with Beau Brown’s six-time winner Sweetnfamous with Chris Page, as Rocksy`s Way and Kurt Sugg, from post seven, could be the spoiler.

Rising MVP, the ultra-consistent son of My MVP looks to pick up his ninth win of the year but the Bill Daugherty Jr.-trained 2-year-old and driver Chris Page have to keep an eye on the outside because Rose Run Turbo with Ronnie Wrenn Jr. from post eight could upset.

Joe Paver’s undefeated Carminesdaleyapple, with regular teamster Pierce Henry aboard, tries for the 17th straight victory of his freshman year. It isn’t a “gimmee” as the altered son of Mr Apple has drawn the eight-hole in a field of nine very competitive OFC 2-year-old pacers and they all know that he is “the one to beat.”

The nine 3-year-old filly trotters has a quartette of heavy hitters with impressive “batting averages” – their 1-2-3 finishes percentage – as Miss Lorelei (.672) and Ryan Holton, Gertie Jean (.518) with Pierce Henry, Henpecked (.521) and Derek Watiker, and Tori`s Chip (.571) with Aaron Merriman step up to the plate.

The OFC 3-year-old colt trot favorite is the Chris Beaver-conditioned Dekeyser, a 13-time winner from 22 starts who is being driven by Aaron Merriman, North America’s and Northfield’s leading driver, as the colt looks to add to over $85,000 in earnings in 2017.

Da Vinci Artist and Kurt Sugg hope that her record of 14 wins from 26 starts and over $70,000 earned will intimidate the rest of the nine OFC 3-year-old filly pacers but Hula Shuffle (Aaron Merriman, post one) and her $60,000 plus 2017 winnings will have a little more than just two cents to add to the fray.

The 10th race OFC for 3-year-old colt and geldings might be an all-out gloves-off battle as four very consistent and winning pacers square off in the field of nine. Each of them are track record holders at the various fairs where they have raced and this is night to settle a question as Mcspidey and Aaron Merriman from post one, Dancin Fever with Robin Miller from post two, Rockin Roger and Hunter Myers from post five, and Smokin Willie with Ryan Stahl from post eight all want to know who is the best?

Be sure to stop by the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association’s “Racing With The Stars” tent and test your Ohio and harness racing trivia knowledge for prizes.