By Tom White
9/18/05
Delaware, OH --- William Huggins’ Valley Electric captured the $12,800 Lady Pace on Sunday afternoon (September 18) at The Delaware, Ohio County Fair.
Brett Miller was in the sulky for trainer Wilbur Eash as the five-year-old Electric Yankee mare won for the sixth time in 22 season’s starts, improving her 2005 earnings to $151,034.
C C Spice (Keith Kash, Jr.) cut the fractions in this short four horse field, passing the opening quarter in :26.3, the half in :56.1, and the three-quarters in 1:24.4.
Valley Electric got away last, moved first over in improving to third place at the three-quarter pole, then was second at the top of the stretch, just a half length behind the leader.
From there it was a four horse dash to the finish with Valley Electric hitting the wire first in a time of 1:54.2. Princess Justice (Bob Harper) rallied to finish second, a head behind the winner, while Cinder Best was third, just a neck off the pace. C C Spice faded to fourth, although she finished just one length behind Valley Electric.
Carol Cramer, editor of the USTA Stakes Guide and Grand Circuit Steward and Secretary, was honored as the 2005 Lady Pace honoree.
Cramer, a native of Bloomingburg, in Fayette County, Ohio, launched her 40-year USTA career in February of 1965 as project assistant to James Harrison, editor of "The Care and Training of the Trotter and Pacer." In 1995, in cooperation with the late Curt Greene and fellow USTA associate Ed Keys, she helped edit and rewrite the second edition of the that popular work.
In 1967, at the suggestion of USTA publicity director Stanley Bergstein and the late Hall of Fame trainer-driver Delvin Miller, the Harness Racing Secretaries Association convened, and the idea of a publication that would list every stakes and added event, along with conditions and payments, was discussed, and Cramer was assigned the task of gathering the information and producing "the book."
For the last 37 years she has met with the racing secretaries, annually, and carried out the herculean job of producing the USTA’s Stakes Guide and Calendar. 20 years ago an events calendar and yearling nomination book were added.
It is hard to imagine trying to campaign a Grand Circuit stable without consulting the Stakes Guide. It really has become the "owner's and trainer’s bible."
In 1999, Cramer was the recipient of the Frederick Van Lennep Memorial Achievement Award, presented by the Hambletonian Society, which was conferred in a ceremony at the Delaware County Fair.
During her career at the USTA, Cramer has served as advertising director of Hoof Beats magazine, was assistant to marketing director Phil Jursek, and helped coordinate the World Driving Championship, which the USTA hosted in 1995. She has been a field representative, and serves on several stakes-related committees.
Cramer also helps with special events and exhibits for the USTA, the main one being the USTA off-site “office” at the Delaware County Fair, during Jug Week.
She has served as a Grand Circuit Steward for 15 years, and for the last six years she has been the organization’s secretary.
Frosh OBC Filly Pace To Van Anna & Party Cat
Van Anna cruised to an open length victory in her $37,751 Ohio Breeders Championship division for freshman filly pacers to sweep the Ohio Triple Crown Ohio State Fair Stakes, Ohio Sires Stakes Championship and the Ohio Breeders Championship.
Driver Sam Noble III had Van Anna sitting in the middle of the pack for the early portion of the event, taking control of the field just before the three-quarter mile pole, to score a 4 ¼ length victory over My Sweet Lorelei (Tony Hall) and Lavish Lillie (Bob Harper) in 1:56 2/5. The Nobleland Sam daughter is conditioned by Dan Collins for Robert A. Kauffman of New Albany, Ohio.
Party Cat (Mike Wilder) picked a good time to break her maiden in winning the first $37,751 division. The daughter of Stand Forever recorded her first victory in eight starts for owner James E. Pichichero of Cincinnati.
Sandy’s Attitude Revenges OSS Final Loss With OBC Victory Sandy’s Attitude enacted a bit of revenge over Stable Creek Barb and six other foes in winning the first division of the $53,752 Ohio Breeders Championship for three-year-old filly trotters.
As the gate’s wings folded, Jack Dailey gunned Sandy’s Attitude right out for the early lead and held off a half-mile challenge from Stable Creek Barb (Brett Miller) to score a 4 ½ length victory over Wildfire Julie (Robert Brown) and Cover The Loot (Ryan Stahl) in 1:58 4/5.
Sandy’s Attitude finished second in the $100,000 Ohio Sires Stakes to Stable Creek Barb in their last meeting on September 3rd.
The Ilooklikemymon lass has earned $147,761 for owners Larry Tinch and John Reames of Ohio.
In the second division, Ask For Gold (Greg Grismore) took advantage of a late miscue by the pacesetting Whotookwhat (Brett Miller) to score a 3 ¼ length victory over Katie’s Fortune (Kayne Kauffman) and Hello Rita (Bryan Weaver) in 2:00 3/5.
Ask For Gold scored for the tenth time in twenty-two seasonal starts for Albert and Regina Favot of Huron Township, Michigan.
“Elvis” Takes Aged OBC Trot
Rose Run Elvis and Mike Wilder was the best in the bulky field of eleven aged trotters to win the $17,800 OBC 4 & 5 Year Old Trot in 1:56 3/5. Overcoming post position nine, the five-year-old gelded son of Armbro Laser tallied his fifth seasonal victory for Ronald & Linda Randall of Berlin Center, Ohio.
Six Billings Divisions Contested
Brent Davis of Zanesville, Ohio guided Don Carlos Hanover to an 8 ½ length victory in the second of six divisions of the Billings Amateur Trot. The gelded son of Pine Chip scored in 1:59 2/5 for his sixth win of the season.
Other Billings divisions went to Go Spread The Word (Simeon Hunsdon), Lookoutforleessa (Gene Miller), Keystone Samantha (William Bercury), No Mon No Fun (Michael Caston) and Candacraigh (Bob Troyer).
Campbell To Drive In 25th Straight LBJ
John Campbell, whose 75 little Brown Jug starters are the most for any driver in Jug history, was named Sunday by trainer Virgil Morgan, Jr. to drive Look Ma No Pans in Thursday’s third elimination of the 60th Jug Classic.
Campbell has won the Jug three times with Merger (1982), Life Sign (1993) and Nick’s Fantasy (1995) and has earned $1,523,373 in LBJ purses. His drive with Look Ma No Pans will be his 25th straight Little Brown Jug appearance.
Look Ma No Pans, at 6-1 in the morning line, is fourth choice to Rocknroll Hanover, P-Forty Seven and Gryffindor in his elimination.
