Cally L Scores surprise win in $50,000 trotting division

Grove City, OH – The Buckeye State’s county fair season came to a close on Saturday (Oct. 11) with $50,000 Ohio Fairs Championships at MGM Northfield Park. Cally L (What The Hill) highlighted the four divisions of trotters, scoring an upset harness racing win as a 20-1 longshot.

In the sophomore filly trot division, Strike A Pose (Luke Hanners) was in front of the field at the first two calls in :27.3 and :58.3 as Cally L (Aaron Merriman) sat third back along the rail behind second-place Stars In My Crown (Dan Noble). Stars In My Crown went off stride going to the three-quarter pole as Strike A Pose continued to lead in 1:28. Down the final stretch, Cally L dove to the inside and edged Strike A Pose by a neck at the line as a hard-charging Countonluna (Daren Harvey) rallied from sixth place at the three-quarter mark to finish third as all three tripped the wire in 1:58. That marked a lifetime best for Cally L, who scored her third win of 2025. Trained by Hank LeVan for owners LeVan Stables, Megan LeVan, Max Perry, and Edward Perry, the What The Hill filly has four lifetime wins with $71,423 in earnings.

CALL L REPLAY

Supreme Dance (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) won a photo finish over Hangtighthoney L (Hank LeVan) to claim the freshman filly trot championship. The Rosy Weaver trainee took the pocket trip as Hangtighthoney L led the field at the first three calls in :29, 1:00.3, and 1:29.3. Supreme Dance moved to the outside of the leader down the final stretch, and the two raced side-by-side to the finish line. Supreme Dance edged Hangtighthoney L by a head as they tripped the wire in 1:59.1 with Toms Queen (David Miller) finishing third. That was a new lifetime mark for Supreme Dance, who is a Full Count filly owned by Weaver and Scott Davis. She has hit the board in 17 of 19 starts this season with 11 victories and $67,738 in earnings.

Despite winning nine consecutive starts earlier this season, Supreme Dance was not on Weaver’s radar as a likely winner on Saturday.

“We talked in the barn for a few days about the horses we had in tonight. I had three fillies in this race and nine in the final tonight. I don’t think anybody in the barn once mentioned Supreme Dance’s name,” Weaver said. “You can put her up against anybody, and she’s going to try her best. I knew she would give it all she had tonight, but, truthfully, I didn’t think it would be enough. But Ronnie drove her great and got a two-hole trip. I knew she would dig and try for all she was worth if she had the opportunity. I’m overjoyed with this little filly because nobody in the barn deserves it more. We have better horses, but I don’t any of them try any harder than her.”

In the freshman colt trot division, Smoking Anson won the championship in a lifetime-best 1:57.3 with owner and trainer Edward Miller in the sulky. Buckeye Baron (Justin Irvine) took the lead off the gate and was in front past the quarter pole in :28.4. After moving first over, Dublins Sidney (Noble) went in front and led the field at the next two calls in :59 and 1:28. Smoking Anson trailed the leader by nearly four lengths at the halfway mark but continued closing the gap. The Mister Anson gelding moved outside of Dublins Sidney down the final stretch and used a strong closing surge to win by a length. Eckert Hill Brady (Wrenn Jr.) rallied for third place after breaking stride off the gate. Smoking Anson has hit the board in nine of 12 seasonal starts with seven wins and has $43,019 in earnings.

SMOKIN ANSON REPLAY

Full Moon Howl (Jason Beattie) took the sophomore colt trot title in 1:57.1. Silverton (Emanuel Miller), a 34-1 longshot, was out front at the first two calls in :27.2 and :57.4 before being passed on the outside by Hydroplan’n Henry (Wrenn Jr.) going to the 1:27.2 three-quarters. Hydroplan’n Henry led the field into the final stretch with Full Moon Howl challenging on the outside. Full Moon Howl surpassed Hydroplan’n Henry and won by a length. Letsgotoparis (Kurt Sugg) was third. It was the 13th win of the season for the Full Count gelding, giving him 19 lifetime victories and $131,622 in earnings. He is trained by Jessica Smith, who co-owns the horse with Madisyn Smith.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

From Wes Mayberry for the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association