Scrappy Was Just That In OBC
Scrappy’s Love withstood extended pressure from Lt Loverboy and scored a nose victory in the $137,000 (div) Ohio Breeders Championship for freshman colt trotters in Tuesday action at the Delaware County Fair.
Drive Mike Wilder used his rail position and established control of the field and fractions of :29.1 and :58.4.
Nearing the half, Brett Miller pulled Lt Loverboy out of the three-hole and pressured Scrappy’s Love past the three-quarters in 1:27.4.
Scrappy’s Love and Lt Loverboy raced in tandem the final quarter and the two appeared to hit the line together in 1:56.2. The photo finish showed Scrappy’s Love held on.
Whats Shakin (Ronnie Gillespie) and Rose Run Ari (Austin Hanners) rounded out the top four.
Scrappy’s Love is the son of Long Tom and was bred by Walter S. Fister. He is owned by Gil Short and Jeffrey Bankey and trained by Chris Beaver.
He has now been first or second in six of seven seasonal starts.
Battle Hill and Chris Lems benefited from a couple of opportune breaks in stride by a challenger and a leader and won the first $68,500 division.
When the gates wings folded, the eventual winner grabbed the lead in the first eighth of the mile and relinquished control to Hilltop Sonar (Chris Page) past the opening quarter in :28.3.
As the field of eight approached the half in :58.2, Stud Muffin T (Tyler Smith) was the first to challenge Hilltop Sonar, but broke stride going into the 5/8-mile pole.
Oso Fast (David Miller) found himself first over and applied pressure on the leader past the quarter in 1:27.2.
As the leading Hilltop Sonar turned for home, he broke stride and was pulled inside the pylons. Battle Hill inherited the lead and victory in 1:57.1. Uncle Moneybags (Aaron Merriman) was promoted to second and Power Hill (Austin Hanners) was ascended to third.
The Marseille gelding is trained by Matthew Burkholder for William A. Hartt. He was bred by Galliers Racing.

Photo Credit: Brad Conrad Photos