Track records decimated at Oceana (Mich.) County Fair

from the Michigan Harness Horsemen's Association

HART, Mich. — Bo Silas became the fastest trotter in the history of the Oceana County Fair, parrying a head-stretch challenge from Rankin to win Tuesday's (Aug. 20) $7,950 Michigan Colt Stakes for Michigan-bred 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings in 1:59.

In line to Brad Kramer, Bo Silas set early fractions of :30.1, 1:01.2 and 1:30.3 with Rankin sitting in the pocket. Turning for home, Rankin encroached to within a length of Bo Silas, but the gelded son of Jailhouse Jesse-Betteka sprinted home in :28.2 to score by 3-1/4 widening lengths.

The 1:59 mark takes 2-2/5 seconds off Erie's Blues' 2:01.2 all-age record, set in 1996, and three seconds off the divisional mark of 2:02, shared by New Swan In Town and Bluemoon Glide. Trainer Kelly Goodwin shares ownership of the Jailhouse Jesse-Betteka gelding with Deborah Spike-Pierce and Scott Price.

Born Wild used a :27.4 sprint home to evade Captain Candy Man by 1-1/4 lengths in the $7,950 3-year-old male pace, with his 1:58 winning time taking two-fifths of a second off the 1:58.2 divisional standard set in 2003 by Johnny G That's Me and a tick of Black Chana's 20-year-old all-age track record of 1:58.1. David Lake drove the Well Said-Artistic Heart gelding for trainer Kent Hess and owner Ted Boschma.

Also, on Tuesday's card:

• King Putt rode the pocket to a four-length, 1:59.4 win over Nightpro Star in the $8,050 2-year-old male pace, one-fifth of a second faster than the 2:00 divisional record set by Goodness Graycious last year. Joe Casagranda bred, owns, trains and drove the JK Endofanera-PV Miracle Mary colt.

• Tequila Time defeated Plays Pro by 7-1/4 lengths in the $8,000 2-year-old filly pace, and her 2:01 time matched the divisional record set by Mother Mary last year. Driver Aaron Colley owns and trains the daughter of Real Desire-DCN Tulip Time.

Monday's (Aug. 19) Colt Stakes card for Michigan-sired horses also saw a pair of long-standing track records fall:

• Kaa Dee Carol and Lake sped to a 2:05.1 win in the $9,950 2-year-old filly trot, knocking 1-2/5 seconds of Mariesa's Gem Star's 2002 standard. Kent Hess trains the Marjorie Deshetsky homebred Southwind Russet-Can't Fire Me filly.

• Ice Crystal and owner-breeder-trainer-driver Scott Altizer romped in the $11,150 sophomore filly trot, defeating Paragonalisnchains by 10-3/4 lengths in 2:04.4 and taking one-fifth of a second off Quillionaire's 20-year-old divisional track record.

The Michigan fair harness racing circuit returns to the Barry Expo Center, in Hastings, Mich., on the next two Tuesdays (Aug. 27 and Sept. 3).

To watch replays of the 2024 Michigan fair harness racing circuit, visit the Michigan Harness Horsemen's Association YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@MichHarnessHorse).