by Paul Ramlow, USTA Internet News Manager

Delaware, OH — Pink Magic and driver John Campbell brushed to the lead on the final turn and went on to win the $55,000 Standardbred for 2-year-old pacing fillies in 1:57 on Thursday (Sept. 23) at the Delaware County Fair.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Pink Magic and driver John Campbell won the $55,000 Standardbred for 2-year-old pacing fillies in 1:57.

Owned by In The Pink Racing LLC and trained by Danny Collins, the daughter of The Panderosa-Lt’s Magic won for the second time in seven lifetime starts, improving her career bankroll to $32,360.

Latin Lyric (Brett Miller) led through opening fractions of :28.2 and :58.3 before Nutmegs Yankee (Dave Palone) took the field to the three-quarter pole in 1:27.1. Campbell sent Pink Magic to the outside down the backstrech to take over the lead on the final turn, then held off Latin Lyric in the lane to post the 1:57 win. Nutmegs Cider (David Miller) came on to finish third.

Pink Magic paid $33.80 to win.

“We didn’t expect it (the victory) but we thought she could hit the board,” said Hilary Matthews of In The Pink Racing LLC. “She is peaking late in the season and we thought she certainly deserved the opportunity.

“We are absolutely thrilled beyond belief that she won. We bought her at the Delaware Sale in February as a yearling, I broke her out at our farm and then sent her to Danny so he could train her.”

— Kim French also contributed to this report