The $129,706 Ohio Breeders Championship for two-year-old colt trotters highlighted the Tuesday action at the Delaware County Fair.
Delaware’s all-time leading driver David Miller made his presence known early this week when he piloted Pattis Main Man to victory in the first division.
Pattis Main Man led gate-to-wire, but had to hold off a late rush by the bettor’s choice, Wittyville (Chris Page) by a neck in 1:56.3. Never Say Uncle (Aaron Merriman) and Rose Run Urban (Peter Wrenn) completed the Superfecta.
The freshman son of Manofmanymissions is owned and trained by Mike Sowers of McArthur, Ohio. Pattis Main Man was bred by Midland Acres and has five wins on the season.
With the win, David Miller increased his all-time win total at Delaware to 224.
In the second $64,853 division, Kayne Kauffman used a patient drive with Cumberland Gap to win in 1:57.1.
When the gate wing opened, Oh So Pine (Dan Noble) and Cumberland Gap battled for the early lead. The eventual winner yielded to Oh So Pine through the opening fractions of :28.2 and :58.2. Cumberland Gap took the lead just before the three-quarter mile pole in 1:27.3. Oh So Pine tried to rally one more time in the lane but came up a half-length short.
Cumberland Gap won for the sixth time in 11 seasonal starts for owner/trainer Renee Bauslaugh of Delaware, Ohio and breeder Charles Stillings of DeLeon Springs, Florida.
The final time equalled the Wishing Stone colt’s lifetime mark.
Crossing an item off his bucket list was driver Nick Boyd, who nabbed his first ever win over the fame Delaware oval with Jim Tom in a $3,995 division of the Ohio Fair Racing Conference for two-year-old colt and gelding pacers.
Boyd worked out a perfect, pocket trip for the Chad Moore trainee. Redwoods Hanover carved out fractions of :27.4, :57.4 and 1:27 before getting nipped in the closing strides by Boyd and Jim Tom in 1:57.1. Jim Tom rewarded his backers to the tune of 23-1 in the upset victory.
The 20-race Jugette Day card on Wednesday will kick off at 11:00 a.m.
(With files from Little Brown Jug)