by Thom Pye, for the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association

Ottawa, OH — There are eight Putnam counties in the U.S. (each named for General Israel Putnam of Revolutionary War fame) but on Tuesday evening (June 26) the harness racing action was at the county seat of Ottawa in Northwest Ohio.

The 142-year-old half-mile oval was in great shape as eight Western Ohio Colt Racing Association 3-year-old fillies went behind starter Mike Woebkenberg’s gate and stepped out to a mile in 2:01.4 for the first of the evening’s 13 races.

Tyler Rush picked up the seat behind John Predmore and Richard Bauder’s Princess Kay and took the daughter of Woodstock to victory in her $4,135 division over Grant Me This and Betty’s Legacy.

Other divisional winners were Checks On The Way (Jeff Nissonger) in 2:01 and an impressive Believe In Waco (Believeinbruiser-Waco Sharon) as Art McIlmurray steamed home in :28.3 to take it in 2:00 over Rainbow Majic and Eden’s Lucky Charm. Her earnings for 17 Ohio starts are almost at $150,000 for two years of competition.

The $5,043 second race for 3-year-old trotting colts saw the Roger Hughes Jr.-owned/trained/driven Sultan Of Cash continue to live up to his name as he scored an easy win by seven lengths in 2:01.2 over Caviar’s Triumph and Onemorebro and justified his being barred from the wagering. At one point the gelded son of Cash Hall-Anything But Love was on top by 25 lengths but coasted home and pushed his career earnings to more than $180,000 in just 15 Ohio starts.

Harrison Le Van guided trainer Herb Le Van’s Manny L (Manofmanymissions) to the winner’s circle in 2:02 in the $4,943 WOCRA second division.

Officially My Way, a 2-year-old filly by Art Official with Ron Randall in the sulky for trainer Ed Greeno Jr., took her $4,405 WOCRA division in 2:04.3, pacing a last quarter in :29.3.

The two other WOCRA divisions saw similar miles by Rosies Apples (Mr Apples) with Pierce Henry in 2:04.1 and Bet You Im Rockin (Rockin Armedeus) with Todd Luther posting a time of 2:05.

Ondine, a 2-year-old colt by Wishing Stone, trotted his way to a lifetime tab of 2:06 by three lengths for driver Bruce Schmidt and the Paul Sunderhaus-trainee had a payout of 55-1 for his supporters.

Nine horses lined up for the Signature Series Trot and they had a combined total of more than $1.6 million on their cards. Krista Harmon’s Rompaway Beau, her 12-year-old stalwart by Chip Chip Hooray, showed the audience why he set the current track record of 1:59.3 in each of the past two years as he gutted out a mile for catch-driver Jeff Hissonger and just got beat by Team Zordin (Tyler Rush) in 2:02 with a last panel of :29.

The Ohio Ladies Pace did not hold anything back as they went eyeball to eyeball in yet another classic. It was only a three-horse field but you’d never know it as Emily Hay behind Milliondollarart carried Cactus Billy and Mariah Wright to the quarter in :29.4 while Mandy Jones and Casimir Oppee sat third. When Hay went to retake the lead at the half there definitely was a look of defiance in Wright’s jaw and she refused to yield. It was another hard-fought battle but Wright posted win number two in start number two. Mandy Jones got up for second.

Putnam concludes its 2018 racing season Wednesday with a 5 p.m. post time.