Delaware County Fair: Ocean Rock heads Thursday's OBC winners

Ocean Rock tied the track record for a 3-year-old gelding pacer and completed an Ohio Triple Crown with a dominating 1:49 2/5 victory in his $48,121 Ohio Breeders Championship (OBC) on Thursday at the Delaware County Fair.

Dan Noble let the Christi Noble-trained son of Rockin Amadeus roll on the engine today, zipping through fractions of 26 4/5, 54 3/5, and 1:21 4/5 on his way to a 6 3/4 length win over Stanford Court (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.). Bred and owned by Sandra Burnett, this was Ocean Rock's 11th career win, he has earned $519,737, and he paid $2.20 to win.

Elver Hanover (Chris Page), who was second to Ocean Rock in the Ohio Sires Stakes final, won the other OBC flight for sophomore pacing males in 1:51 1/5. He took the lead after the 26 2/5 opening quarter, kept control through a 55 1/5 half and a 1:23 1/5 three-quarters, and went on to down Cody Hanover (Mike Wilder) by a length and three-quarters.

Ron Burke trains the victorious Yankee Cruiser gelding for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Bridgette Jablonsky, Jason Melillo, and J&T Silva- Purnel & Libby. Elver Hanover has a record of 12-2-1 from 17 attempts, and he pushed his bankroll to $554,260. He returned $2.60 to win.

Ohio Sires Stakes champion Penpaperpaige (Tyler Smith) won the second of a pair of $46,021 OBCs for 3-year-old pacing fillies in 1:52. She went to the point, cut out panels of 28 2/5, 57 1/5, and 1:24 2/5, and parked out favorite Artful Dancer (Noble) in the middle-half. After turning away Artful Dancer, Penpaperpaige had to deal with a stretch surge from Real Rockin Ravi (David Miller), and she just held her off, scoring by a nose.

A daughter of Pet Rock, Penpaperpaige is trained by Jeff Smith for owner/breeder Shirley Le Vin. Penpaperpaige made her tenth appearance in the winner's circle and has now pocketed $296,036. She paid $8.60 to win.

Back in the first OBC for the sophomore pacing fillies, McMarkle Sparkle (Brett Miller) led her five rivals through stations of 26 4/5, 56, and 1:23 4/5, repelling a first-up Beautiful Beach (Tim Tetrick) in the third quarter. In the lane Crowntimerockette (Page) tipped out two-wide and rallied, but she came up a nose short of McMarkle Sparkle in a 1:52 3/5 mile.

Trained by Jim Arledge Jr. for owners/breeders Laura and Paul Baker, McMarkle Sparkle posted her sixth lifetime triumph, and she has now stashed away $207,786. She returned $6.40 to win.

There were also two $62,446 OBCs for rookie pacing colts and geldings on the card. Noble won the opener with Heart Of Chewbacca in 1:52 2/5 after he put up splits of 28 3/5, 58 1/5, and 1:26. Laughagain Hanover (Dexter Dunn) was second from the pocket, a length and a half behind the winner.

Heart Of Chewbacca, a colt by Bring On The Beach, is trained by Burke for owners Dennis Owens and Norman Rae Racing. Heart Of Chewbacca has five victories and two runner-up finishes in seven attempts, and he has earnings of $195,598. He paid $2.40 to win.

Charlie May (B. Miller), the Ohio Sires Stakes champion, added the OBC to his haul in 2020 by winning the other grouping in 1:52 2/5. He was well-rated on the lead through a 28 second quarter, a 57 1/5 half, and a 1:25 1/5 three-quarters, then closed in 27 1/5 to win by 2 3/4 lengths over Pine Grove Racer (Tetrick).

Don Tiger bred and owns Charlie May, a McArdle gelding. He now owns seven victories and two runner-up finishes in his freshman campaign, and he has made $328,627. He returned $2.10 to win.