Delaware County Fair: Ohio Breeders Championships round out Jug Day action

A number of Ohio Breeders Championship divisions were contested on the undercard of the Little Brown Jug on Thursday afternoon at the Delaware County Fair.

Here is a recap of those events:

Three-year-old colt and gelding pace

Gold Digger King (Brian Sears) scored an upset win in the first $54,600 division in 1:51 4/5 over Native’s Sweetlou (Dan Noble). Paying $41.20 to win, Gold Digger King is owned by Linda Van Camp and trained by Scott Mogan.

Rock Candy (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) prevailed in the second split with a 1:51 4/5 win over Bllack Hole (Tyler Smith) and Yankee Boots (Noble). Rock Candy is trained by Brian Brown for long-time clients Country Club Acres, Joe Sbrocco, and Richard Lombardo.

Both winners were sired by Pet Rock.

Three-year-old filly pace

Twinsburg (Yannick Gingras) was the beneficiary of quick early fractions and rallied to defeat a closing Queen Of The Pride (Tony Hall) to win the $100,000 event. The winning time of 1:53 was a new lifetime mark for the McArdle filly. Twinsburg was recently purchased by Mark Ford and is trained by Jim Pollock Jr.

Queen Of The Pride was disqualified and placed ninth due to interference while on a break early in the race. Avaline Hanover (Mike Wilder) and Rose Run Uptowngal (Matt Kakaley) were elevated to the place and show spots, repectively.

Two-year-old colt and gelding pace

The undefeated Elver Hanover (Chris Page) kept his career slate clean with a gutsy win in the second of two $64,200 divisions. The Yankee Cruiser gelding defeated Stanford Court (Wrenn Jr.) by a length in 1:52 3/5. Elver Hanover is now a perfect seven-for-seven and has earned $288,600 for Burke Racing Stable, Dr. Bridgette Jablonsky, Jason Melillo, and J&T Silva- Purnel & Libby.

"I was planning on doing both weeks in Lexington, but we'll have to see. I wasn't thrilled with him today, so he'll tell me the middle of next week before I enter what he wants to do. He's a good horse. He's a very good horse. He's the best Yankee Cruiser we've had since Sweet Lou.

"If you can pace 1:51 at Northfield in the mud, you can go 1:49 at Lexington, that's no problem. He just knows how to win. That's what he is; he's a winner."

Mr Ds Rock (Aaron Merriman) overcame a tough trip and held off the upset-minded Big Bretta (Dan Noble) in 1:55 2/5 to take the first division. The Pet Rock gelding is trained by Steve Carter for Tammy Carter, Debra Carsey, Scp Stable Inc., and Peggy Carter. Mr Ds Rock’s earnings now sit at $108,565 thanks to the win.

The Sportsmaster broodmare Cotton Candy won two Ohio Breeders Championships with full brothers Rock Candy and Mr Ds Rock.

--edited press release (Delaware County Fair)--