Delaware County Fair: Only Take Cash polishes off Ohio Triple Crown season

On Thursday Stay Hungry will be going for the Pacing Triple Crown in the Little Brown Jug, but on Wednesday 2-year-old trotting filly Only Take Cash completed the Ohio Triple Crown by adding the Ohio Breeders Championship at the Delaware County Fair to her earlier titles in the Ohio State Fair and Ohio Sires Stakes.

Driven by Aaron Merriman and racing in the second $63,900 division for the rookie trotting fillies, it looked like Only Take Cash might be in trouble at the 57 2/5 half as she was being parked out by See Me Sparkle (Jim Pantaleano), but she hung in on the outside, then took the lead passing the 1:25 4/5 three-quarters as See Me Sparkle jumped it off. Only Take Cash was not challenged after she landed on the lead, winning by a length and three-quarters over Stone In Love (Chris Page) in a 1:56 2/5 mile. Pure Chance (David Miller) was the third-place finisher.

Only Take Cash, who is by Cash Hall, is trained by Bob McIntosh, who also owns the filly with partners Dave Boyle and Mardon Stables. Only Take Cash has a record of 8-1-0 from nine trips behind the gate, and she has now pocketed $272,140. McIntosh and C S X Stables bred Only Take Cash, who is out of the Garland Lobell mare Armbro Affair (1:53 4/5, $430,997). Only Take Cash was the 1-9 public choice and returned $2.10 to win.

Vivi D (Kyle Ater) won the other 2-year-old filly trot split in 1:56 1/5. She showed the way through panels of 28 2/5, 58, and 1:27, then came home in 29 1/5 to down Bella's Rose Power (Merriman) by 2 1/4 lengths. Aunt Rose (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) finished in third.

Trainer Dan Ater also co-owns Vivi D, a daughter of Broadway Hall, with partner Kirk Nichols. Vivi D is now a three-time winner from seven tries, and she has put away $103,650. She was the 2-1 favorite and paid $6.80 to win.

Sophomore trotting males also raced in a pair of Ohio Breeders Championship tilts on the card, with victories going to Mission Accepted and Rising MVP.

In the first $53,100 test, Mission Accepted (Ryan Stahl) pulled first-up from third going to the 1:24 2/5 three-quarters and wore down game leader Pass The Vape (Derek Watiker) through the stretch drive to score by a length and a quarter in 1:54 2/5. Dontforgetmaster (Josh Sutton) was the third-place finisher.

Jeff Conger trains and also co-owns Mission Accepted, a Manofmanymissions colt, with breeder Knox Services Inc. and David Wills. Mission Accepted has won nine of his 17 career efforts, and he has now earned $315,524. The 7-2 second choice, he returned $9.00 to win.

Rising MVP (Merriman) controlled the proceedings through fractions of 28 1/5, 57 1/5, and 1:25 3/5 in the other section and went on to win by four lengths in 1:54 4/5. MVP Luke (Dan Noble) was the second-place finisher, with Sand Cash (Chris Page) back in third.

A gelding by My MVP, Rising MVP is trained by William Daugherty Jr. for owner Susan Daugherty. Rising MVP now has 15 lifetime triumphs, and he has banked $166,572. He was sent off as the 9-5 choice and paid $5.60 to win.