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

Bellefontaine, OH — The scenic town of Bellefontaine is noted for being home to the highest point in Ohio (at 1,550 feet) but it is also home to the Logan County Fair and has hosted harness racing since 1860.

Tuesday (July 10) was another high point as 12 divisions of Western Ohio Colt Racing Association distaff trotters and pacers answered the call to post starting at 6 p.m. The excellent drainage on the quick half-mile oval was evident as a 20 minute deluge at 4:30 p.m. did not really affect the performances.

Shake It Mary, Kimberly Dailey and Paul Thiesing’s 2-year-old daughter of Dontyouforgetit-Marigot Express, shook off her previous missteps and trotted to her initial lifetime mark as Scott Cisco steered the Dailey-trained lass to victory in 2:08.4 in her $3,975 WOCRA division.

The very next race, the $4,155 WORCA division for 2-year-old filly pacers, Rockin Megan L (by Pet Rock) picked up her first win for trainer Herb Le Van with driver Hank Le Van as she paced a last quarter in :29 to win in 2:03.3 over Always Be Special and Ufedlikestrump.

In the second $4,155 WOCRA division it was the Bret Swartz-conditioned Oh Miss Rylee (by Pet Rock) clipping off a last panel of :30.1 as she bested Miss Me Now (Jeff Nisonger) and Running Scared (Tyler Rush) in 2:01.3 and gave driver Cameron McCown the first of his four winning drives on the 80-degree night.

The third division saw Lucky 58 Stable’s A Rocking Goodnite (by Rockin Armedeus) and driver Pierce Henry take the winner’s share. The Mike Polhamus pupil went to the winner’s circle with a time of 2:05.3.

Connie Lane’s Art Of Norma (by Art Official) and driver Tyler Rush went head-to-head with pacesetting Talkaboutaqueen and Jay Weller down the lane before stopping the timer in 2:01.3 as the 3-year-old filly captured her $3,835 WOCRA division. Lilly L (Louis Le Van) was third.

The fastest time for the evening was put in by Checks On The Way in the $3,735 WOCRA second division as driver Jeff Nisonger commanded the action with the Brian Roebuck-trained daughter of Believeinbruiser and grabbed the win with a mile in 1:59.2, last quarter in :29.4. Even with her last half in :58.2, Eden’s Lucky Charm (Big Bad John) and driver Beau Brown could not catch the winner.

Noses separated the third WOCRA division as owner/trainer Robert Brooks’ Connies Desire (by Woodstock) with Roy Burns bested JP Silver and Chris Hope after they steamed home in :28.3 in the 2:01.3 mile.

The evening’s program was concluded with two divisions of the Signature Series FFA Trot and Cameron McCown signed out with both of them as he piloted trainer Steve Boroff and owner Larry Farley’s Ronan in 2:01 in the 13th and stablemate Winbak Charles M in 2:00 in the 14th.