by Keith Gisser, for the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association

The Mahoning County Fair hosted the Canfield Trotting and Pacing Derbies Friday morning (Aug. 31) and Kurt Sugg piloted the winners of both heats. In fact, Sugg won three of his four drives on the card, with a second place finish in his other drive, for a UDRS of .889 on the day.

The day started with the $4,250 Canfield Trotting Derby, which saw Star Chip, a 7-year-old Chip Chip Hooray gelding, lead at every call while posting a 1:59.3 win, his sixth of the season. Star Chip is an all-Sugg project, as Kurt also trains for owner Rebecca Sugg.

Thanks For Plain was second, 6-3/4 lengths back, and Annie’s Rocketman finished third, losing the place photo.

The five horses in the $4,250 Canfield Pacing Derby had amassed an impressive $1.24 million in career earnings heading into the race and once again Sugg went to the lead and dared the field to catch him. He drove the Herman Hagerman owned and trained Roll’em Up to a 1:57.3 victory, after reaching the half in a leisurely :59.2.

The 10-year-old Rocknroll Hanover gelding defeated Blue Spanx by two lengths, while Don’t Tell Rusty was three-quarters of a length further back in third.

Racing continues at Canfield Saturday with an eight-race card starting at 11 a.m. and concludes on Monday with a noon post. Those 10 races will be followed by mule races and draft horse races.