by Jay Wolf, assistant publicity director, the Little Brown Jug
Delaware, OH — Sam “Chip” Noble III visited the Delaware winner’s circle for the 100th time in his career when he guided Kelpie Hanover to a 2:00.1 victory in the $6,800 Delaware Open for sophomore filly trotters on Sunday afternoon (September 18).
Kelpie Hanover edged Scarlet Spur (Dan Noble) and Photo Memory (Ray Paver) in a three way photo finish. Kelpie Hanover is owned by Dale Sweet, Hans Bachmann and Patricia Wollam and conditioned by Marty Wollam.
jay Wolf photo
Friskie Beauty edged Airie Feelin in the Ohio Breeders Championship.
Friskie Beauty rebounded from a tough loss in the Ohio Sire Stakes final earlier this month to capture the $29,000 Ohio Breeders Championship on the opening day of the Delaware County Fair.
The Feelin Friskie-Downwyn Kate filly was eased off the wings and settled into the back of the field. Noble pulled the eventual winner after the half-mile pole and was fourth, just one length back, at the top of the stretch.
Friskie Beauty passed three pacers in the lane and edged Airie Feelin (Brett Miller) by a quarter of a length in 1:58.1. Wait For It (Chris Page) rounded out the trifecta.
The winner is owned by Thurman Downing and trained by Marty Wollam. Friskie Beauty is now five for 10 on the season and has earned $62,076.
Dein Spriggs, representing the Florida Amateur Driving Club, won the Tim Fouts Memorial Amateur Driving Championship with Stubb’sleasureguy.
Springgs sent the Stubby B gelding right to the front and led wire-to-wire to defeat Fox Valley Quantum (Mark Jones) and Rabbitman (Mike Cayouette) in 1:57.4.
The Fouts Memorial brings together the champions from nine amateur driving clubs in North America.
D W’s Perky Joe and Thomas Williams overcame post 10 to take the second of two Billings Amateur Trot divisions in 1:58.3. Williams had the 7-year-old Super Bowl gelding in good position early and came off the rail at the three-quarter-mile pole to sprint clear of the field of 10 to score the four length victory. Drill Sergeant Sam (Peter Gerry) and Rush N Supreme (Mitchell Walker) finished in a dead-heat for second.
George Bonomo guided Spit Happens to victory in the first $4,500 Billings Amateur Trot division in 2:01.2. The victory gave Spit Happens back-to-back victories in the Billings Series at Delaware. The 9-year-old gelding’s victory was his 29th career win and pushed his career earnings over the $100,000 mark.