Northfield: Ohio Fairs Champions crowned for 2020

Northfield Park played host to the eight $40,000 Ohio Fairs Championships for rookies and sophomores of both sexes and gaits on Saturday night's card.

The star of the night was 2-year-old trotting filly Designer Specs, who went 13-for-13 on the Ohio Fair Circuit this year and remained unblemished with a life's-best 1:57 4/5 score in her Championship. Driven by Ryan Stahl, she sat a pocket trip behind Boujee Girl (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.), who is a full sister to Ohio Triple Crown winner Action Uncle, then out-finished that foe in the last quarter to win by half a length.

By Full Count, Designer Specs is trained by Jayne Weller for owners Louise and Jay Weller. Bred by Marvin Raber, Designer Specs has earned $56,664 and paid $2.40 to win as the 1-5 choice.

Wrenn Jr. and Aaron Merriman each won a pair of Championships. Wrenn Jr. connected in the 3-year-old colt and gelding trot with Timestorm, a gelding by Stormin Normand, in 1:55 1/5 for trainer Kent Hess and owner Ted Boschma, and in the 2-year-old colt and gelding pace with Feelin Western, a Western Terror colt, in 1:53 2/5 for trainer Brian Brown, co-owner/breeder VIP Internet Stable LLC. and co-owner Joseph Rotella.

As for Merriman, he was victorious in the 2-year-old filly pace with Ball Diamond, a daughter of We Will See, in 1:56 1/5 for trainer Lonnie Graber and owner Dannie Hostetler and in the 3-year-old filly trot with Electric Ridge, by Triumphant Caviar, in 1:56 2/5 for co-owner/trainer Chris Beaver and co-owners James Gallagher, Moger-Delia Racing Inc., and Steven Zeehandelar.

The biggest upset of the Championships came in the 3-year-old colt and gelding pace when post eight starter Rockin Daddy O (Greg Grismore) rallied from ninth to first in the back-half of the mile to score in 1:51 2/5 at odds of 82-1. Trainer Philippe Belanger also co-owns the victorious Rockin Amadeus gelding with Jeffrey Koesters.

Rounding out the Championship winners were 2-year-old colt trotter Checkmate, a son of Broadway Hall who triumphed in 1:59 for driver Hunter Myers, trainer Bryan Weaver, and owner/breeder Donna Anderson, and sophomore pacing filly Bad Ms Johnson, a daughter of Big Bad John who prevailed in 1:54 2/5 for trainer/driver Hank Le Van and owner Rico Johnson.