by Bill Peters

Celina, OH — Brandon Bates guided Moveman to a new overall trotting track record at the Mercer County Fair in Celina, Ohio, during Monday evening’s race program.

The 4-year-old gelding completed his mile in 2:00 in a conditioned trot to establish the new mark. The old record was 2:00.2, set by Rewrite The Rules in 2011. Maria Howard trains Moveman and also co-owns him with Brian Carsey.

Tyler Smith moved two steps closer in his quest to become the youngest driver in the history of harness racing to win 1,000 races. Smith picked up his 998th victory in winning the 2-year-old colt pace with Buckeye Dreamer (Sadies Dreamboat-Sharon’s Future) in 2:01. His father, Jeff, trains Buckeye Dreamer for Watermark Farms LLC.

Smith came back in a conditioned pace to win number 999 with Major Mike. The 4-year-old gelding is trained by Mike Evans for James Hefner and Nick Katterhenry. Major Mike toured the Celina oval in 2:00.2.

Melissa LeVan’s Hanky L (Stand Forever-Sheer Sahbra) captured the 3-year-old colt pace in 2:00. Herb LeVan trains the gelding with Jack Dailey picking up the winning drive.

Sammy Sammy Sammy (Victory Sam-Katie Katie Katie) took the 3-year-old colt trot with a mile in 2:05.4. John Konesky III is the trainer-driver of Sammy Sammy Sammy and also co-owns him with his son Patrick.

Jason Haynes steered Stanley Begonia (Chip Chip Hooray-Spritely Begonia) to victory in the 2-year-old colt trot. Jason’s father, Sherald, trains the gelding with both Jason and Sherald picking up the expenses. Stanley Begonia’s winning time was 2:07.

Legacy’s Best took the fastest division of the Grand Lake Pace, which is a part of the Signature Series. The 6-year-old horse covered the Mercer County Fair twice-around in 1:58.2. Brian Georges is the owner-trainer of Legacy’s Best with Shawn Barker II performing the driving duties.

Camn Yankee closed out the fair’s harness racing program by finding the winner’s circle in the second division after a mile in 1:58.3. Ben Davis trains Camn Yankee for Kent Saunders. Zach Henry picked up the winning catch-drive on the 11-year-old gelding.