by Jay Wolf, assistant publicity director, the Little Brown Jug

Delaware, OH — Sam Noble III found himself in a familiar spot on Monday afternoon (Sept. 20) — the winner’s circle at the Delaware County Fairgrounds.

Noble guided ML Cupcake to a hard earned 1-3/4 length victory over Photo Memory (Jim Dailey) in 1:59.4 in the $19,711 first division of the Ohio Breeders Championship for freshman trotting fillies.

ML Cupcake and Photo Memory were both hustled off the gate and battled for the early lead. Photo Memory cleared to the lead just past the quarter in :30 and passed the half-mile station in 1:00.3. Count Your Credit (Marty Wollam) pressured the leader past the three- quarter pole in 1:30. Noble angled the eventual winner off the rail and sprinted home in :29.4 for the victory.

The Master Lavec lass is trained by Scott Mogan for William Johnson II and Douglas Millard.

With the victory, Noble now has 96 career wins over the Delaware oval. The winning time was just a fifth of a second off the stakes record of 1:59.3.

In the second $19,711 division, J.D. Wengerd made an aggressive move with Minnie Spur just past the half-mile station and cruised to a two length victory over Striking Lass (Robin Miller) in 2:01.

The victory was Minnie Spur’s third in 12 seasonal starts. The daughter of Pegasus Spur is owned by Robert Sidley and conditioned by Mike Medors.

JJ Hall, Lima Legend and Future Night Train won divisions of Monday’s $54,924 Ohio Breeders Championship 2-year-old colt trot.

JJ Hall trotted in 2:00 and gave driver Chip Noble his 97th victory at the Delaware County Fair with his win in the first division. The Jailhouse Jesse colt, sent off as the 2-5 favorite, led from start to finish to defeat DJ John Boy and Northmedo Wine Guy. JJ Hall is trained by Scott Mogan and owned by Douglas Milliard.

Lima Legend scored his sixth win in a row in the second division in 2:01 for driver Don McKirgan. The son of Jailhouse Jesse trotted to the top just past the three-quarters and easily outdistanced Count Howie and Herschel’s Hero. Lima Legend is trained by Dee Hotton and owned by Timura Trotters.

Dan Noble warmed up for his first Little Brown Jug drive with a national season’s record of 1:58.3 as Future Night Train won the third division. The win was Noble’s fifth of the week. Future Night Train picked up his seventh victory of the season for trainer Richard Kirby and owner Michael Kirby.

For all the latest news, entries and results from the Delaware County Fair log on to www.littlebrownjug.com.