By Jay Wolf
Big Ranger (Tim Tetrick) and Tom Largo (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) used identical 1:55.3 efforts to capture divisions of the $122,050 (div.) Ohio Breeders Championship for 3-year-old colt trotters on Tuesday (Sept. 22) at the Delaware County Fair.
When the field of five was set on their way in the second division, Grape Crush (David Miller) received the first call and led the field around the first turn.
Tetrick sent the Hambletonian runner-up, Big Ranger, to the lead before the opening panel in :29.3.
Positions remained unchanged past the half in :57.4.
Soulful Saul (Kurt Sugg) was the first to pull to the outside before the three-quarters in 1:27.1.
Big Ranger used a :28.2 final panel to record the one and three-quarter length win over Grape Crush. Rose Run Banker (Chris Page) rallied from last to get the show spot.
The In Range colt, a winner of 14 of 17 career starts, is trained by Anette Lorentzon for Madison Global.
In the first $61,025 division, Tom Largo overcame the outside post six to grab the lead and cruised to a three-length score in 1:55.3 over the ‘good ‘ surface.
Rose Run Boom (Luke Hanners) was second, and Bitcoin King (Aaron Merriman) rounded out the trifecta.
The Long Tom gelding has 12 career wins and $455,762 in earnings.
He is owned by Jughead Stable, G. Peters and Robert Kubiak.
Wrenn Jr., Beachy Sweep Freshman Colt Trot
The driver-trainer combo of Wrenn Jr. and Vernon Beachy swept the $142,750 (div.) OBC for 2-year-old colt trotters with Mind On My Moni and Debt Free.
Mind On My Moni rebounded from a narrow defeat in the $300,000 Ohio Sires Stakes Final (Sept. 12) and cruised to a gate-to-wire effort in 1:59.2.
Wrenn Jr. had the Ready For Moni gelding off the gate’s wing quickly from the outside post six, and they passed the opening quarter in :29.4 and the half in 1:01.2.
Aaron Merriman pulled Commanders Moni before the three-quarters in 1:31.2.
Mind On My Moni held off a late charge from the pocket-sitting Iluvmymoni (Miller) to record the three-quarter length win. Commanders Moni held on for third.
Mind On My Moni is now 7-for-9 on the season.
Stablemate Debt Free used similar front-running tactics to win the second $71,375 division in 1:58.
Obsessed With Me (Brett Miller) was one and a half lengths back in second, and Satan’s Fury (Merriman) was another length back in third.
The Ready For Moni gelding has now earned $230,438 with his fifth career victory.
Both winners are owned by the 518 Group, Gitup Racing, R. Smith, and Todd’s Auto Group.
Racing continues Wednesday (Sept. 23) with a 21-race card highlighted by the 56th edition of the Jugette. Post time is 11 a.m.