by Bill Peters

Hicksville, OH — Arizona Dawn established a new overall pacing track record at the Defiance County Fair in Hicksville, Ohio, on Tuesday night (Aug. 20).

The 5-year-old gelding paced a mile in 1:55.3 in capturing the Gene L. Vance Memorial Pace, which is a part of the Signature Series. Gary Gilliland is the owner-trainer of Arizona Dawn with Mark Headworth picking up the record-winning catch-drive. The old pacing track record was 1:56.1 set by Threetimer in 2002.

Mark Headworth was also handling the lines Tuesday night when Trottin On Over (Neely Dunn-Halle Coy) set a new track record for 3-year-old colt trotters. The gelding’s winning time was 2:01.1. Headworth also trains Trottin On Over for owner Emil Konesky. The previous record for sophomore colt trotters was 2:01.3 by Bali Gong in 2002.

Justlookatmymuscle (Iron Duke-Just Watch) came home first in the 3-year-old filly trot in 2:07. Barbie Conner trains the filly and is also the co-owner with her son, Cody. Barbie’s husband, Rodney, was the winning driver behind Justlookatmymuscle.

Midnight Dude (Downtown Dude-Midnight Jewel) was victorious in the 2-year-old colt pace for owner-trainer-driver Dale Decker. Midnight Dude toured the Hicksville oval in 2:09.3.

Bill Webb’s Mean Fever (Indian Fever-Mean Geraldine) remained undefeated after nine lifetime starts. Webb also trains the filly with Mark Headworth doing the driving. Mean Fever’s winning time was 2:06.2.

Denver Deal (Swan For All-Donna Do You Wanna) took the fastest split of the Chuck Peter Memorial Trot, which is a late closer for 2-year-old trotters. Denver Deal covered the Defiance County Fair twice-around in 2:08 for trainer-driver Carl Putnam, Jr. Putnam also co-owns the gelding with Donald Pierce. The other division went to Sharon Dalke’s What’s Up Chuck (Pizzazzed-Sadie H Hershey) in 2:10.2. David Lake is the trainer-driver of What’s Up Chuck.

Seventeen-year-old Brady Galliers brought CC Big Boy Sam (Nobleland Sam-CC Biggirl Bretta) home first in the Jim Corkwell Memorial Pace, which is a late closer for 3-year-old pacers. Galliers also co-owns the gelding along with Jeff Batt with Jeff Miller performing the conditioning duties. The winning time for CC Big Boy Sam was 2:02.2.

The remainder of the 18-race card was comprised of five overnight races and five Trottingbred races.

Harness racing will conclude at the Defiance County Fair Friday night (Aug. 23) with 13 harness races. Post time for the first race will be 6:30 p.m.