By Tom White
9/19/04

Thomas Gerdeman and Elaine Lauf's Cinder Best captured the $20,950 Lady Pace for older mares on Sunday afternoon (September 19) at the Delaware, Ohio Fair.

Eric Ledford was in the bike for his father, trainer Seldon Ledford, as the seven-year-old daughter of Cambest won for the 13th time in 22 season's outings, with her share of the purse hiking her 2004 earnings to $164,572.

"She's been fantastic all year," said Eric Ledford about Cinder Best, who paced the mile in 1:52.4, a national season's record for an older pacing mare on a half-mile track.

Ledford took his mount right to the front from the outside post position in this compact field of five. They set fractions of :26.4, :56.3, and 1:25.4, before putting in a nifty last quarter clocking of :27 to reach the finish line five and a half lengths in front of runner-up CC Spice (Dave Palone). Nells Bells (Brett Miller) picked up the show dough. Rounding out the field was fourth place finisher Siren (Bob Harper) and fifth place finisher Sheer Sahbra (Ron Steck).

The honoree for the 2004 edition of the Lady Pace was Ann Mossbarger, the wife of Dr. Donald Mossbarger. The Mossbargers launched Midland Acres breeding farm in Bloomingburg, Ohio in the mid-1960s. It has become one of the top Standardbred nurseries in North America, foaling approximately 250 to 300 mares annually.