Delaware, OH — Leading up to the Jugette, a number of undercard stakes graced the half-mile Delaware (Ohio) County Fair oval on Wednesday (Sept. 23).
Ohio Breeders Championship – 2-Year-Old Male Pace
Nine freshman colt pacers went postward in the $137,700 Ohio Breeders Championship, and after an early skirmish between Atlantic Ivey (Atlee Bender), Don’ttruckwithme (Mike Wilder) and Ocean Party (Chris Page), Night Surfer and Dexter Dunn remained patient and crossed the line first in 1:53.4 over a good surface.
Night Surfer, who suffered his only career defeat in his last start, the $300,000 Ohio Sire Stakes Final (Sept. 12), rebounded with a 5-length score. Don’ttruckwithme overcame the outside post 8 to finish second. First Grade and Ronnie Wrenn Jr. used a three-wide move around the final turn and closed from sixth to finish third.
The Delaware County Fair’s all-time leading trainer, Virgil Morgan Jr., conditions the winner for Let It Ride Stable, Morrison Racing Stable, S. Held and Alberg Racing.
Standardbred – 2-Year-Old Filly Pace
Dave Palone, the winningest driver in the history of harness racing, picked up career win No. 21,750 with his 1:56.1 victory with Aestas in the $50,000 Standardbred 2-year-old filly pace.
Love Somebody (Yannick Gingras) was second by a head and Gold Impact (Wilder) was third, beaten by 2 lengths.
Steve LeBlanc trains the Papi Rob Hanover lass for Glenn Dyke.
She now is five-for-eight for her career.
Standardbred – 2-Year-Old Male Trot
Hades Hanover and reinsman Brady Brown received the call and kept their eight competitors at bay, winning the $53,100 Standardbred for 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters in 2:01.1. Gaining Muscle (David Miller) rallied from mid-pack at the top of the stretch to get second and Keystone August (Aaron Merriman) rounded out the top three.
Kathy Schoeffel, Maxx Fortune Stable and Roger Romesser own the gelded son of Greenshoe, who was a $12,000 yearling purchase and has now earned $54,330 this season. Steve Schoeffel is the winning conditioner.
Standardbred – 2-Year-Old Male Pace
Pa Lincoln and Gingras had to work hard to get the lead, but once they did, they were able to control the fractions, winning the $51,700 freshman pace in 1:56.4. The bettor’s choice, Atomix Hanover (Anthony MacDonald), was 2-1/4 lengths behind the winner; Slinky Dawg (Wrenn) was third.
The Sweet Lou colt is owned by the Kirk Nichols, Hutchison Harness, Wayne Mast Jr. and Vincent Urciuoli. The locally-based Brian Brown was the winning conditioner. Pa Lincoln has recorded three career wins in his seven career starts.
Standardbred – 2-Year-Old Filly Trot
Driver Jason Bartlett gave Sevenoops Hanover a first-over trip from the half-mile station and cruised to 1:58.4 win over a sloppy surface in the second of two $27,750 divisions. Shes A Home Run (Wrenn), the pacesetter, was second by 1-1/2 lengths; Mrs Rattigan (Andy Miller) was another half length behind in third.
Petter Engblom trains the Greenshoe filly for the Engblom Stable, Evans Nation and Hickory Hollow Stables.
The first $27,750 division was a gate-to-wire effort by The Captain’s Wife Wrenn in 2:01. A pocket-sitting Tactical Beauty (Andy Miller) was 1-3/4 lengths back in second; Salt Water Taffy (Gingras) completed the trifecta.
The 518 Group and Ryan Smith co-own the Captain Corey filly. She is trained by Vernon Beachy.