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

Marysville, OH — Ohio Fair racing was held this past weekend in Marysville.

The crowd was smiling in Marysville when Gotmoneyinmypocket and Chris Page opened the Union County Fair race program on Saturday (July 22) with a sizzling mile in 1:58.3h in the Free For All. The Steve Crist-conditioned 4-year-old altered son of Feelin Friskie, owned by Jerry Zosel and Kathy Radcliff, smoked his last quarter in :28.4 to seal the win.

In the $4,739 OFRC 3-year-old filly pace second race, Bye Bye Felicia (Woodstock) and driver Beau Brown said adieu to the field as she won by 16 lengths in 1:58h. The $130,000-plus winning miss is trained by Brian Brown for his Ohio owners Jennifer Brown, Scott Davis, Steve Mullett, and Joyce McClelland.

A tight photo-finish in the third race, $3,300 first division of the OFRC 3-year-old filly trot had everyone guessing until Rebecca Sugg’s Cinderellas Dress won by a nose in 2:02h. The daughter of Triumphant Caviar is trained and driven by Kurt Sugg.

Clyde Perfect’s Santana Blue Chip filly Zoe Ellasen, with Chris Page aboard, took her $4,664 OFRC second division by eight lengths with a tally of 1:59.2h, pacing the last half in a jaw-dropping :57.2 over the other 3-year-olds. It was Page’s third win of the day.

Sunday (July 23) 10-race program had a rain delay of about 40 minutes but thanks to a patient and watchful track crew it did not dampen the spirits or the times.

The Joe Paver trained and Pierce Henry driven Manny’s Too Special (Woodstock) ignored the wet track and stepped off a fine time of 1:58h in the $4,867 OFRC first division for 3-year-old pacers. The Pearl Paver, Joe Paver, Dennis Paver-owned and bred gelding bested Shooter McGavin (McArdle) and Cameron McCown in their continuing rivalry.

It was a Paver/Henry double as the 1-9 hometown favorite, the undefeated Carmensdaleyapple, jogged by 16 lengths in the $4,852 OFRC 2-year-old pace in 1:59h. The gelded son of Mr Apples now sports a 6-for-6 record for owner/trainer/driver/breeder Joe Paver.

The $4,792 OFRC second division for 3-year-old pacers went to K’s Boy as Scott Cisco piloted him to a nine length triumph in 1:58.2h. The Woodstock gelding is owned by Richard Weherley.

And it was another battle in the Ohio Ladies Pace Series as Tabatha Canarr maneuvered Heza Star Cruiser through heavy traffic and posted a good time of 1:59.3 over Interactable (Pat Curtin) and Cullens Blue Jean with Devan Miller driving. The Yankee Cruiser 10-year-old is conditioned by Steve Crist for owners Jerry Zosel and Kathy Radcliff.