By Nicholas Huenefeld
and J. Patrick Eaken
The second night of Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association harness racing at the Wood County Fair featured 14 races inside the grandstand, highlighted by four victories from Marc St. Louis, Jr.
St. Louis, Jr. drove his way to victories on I’m A Beach Lady ($4,447 pace, OHFS 3F), Vapor At The Sea ($3,615 pace, OHFS 2C), Spartan Hill ($3,715 pace, OHFS 2C) and Believe In Tom ($3,615 pace, HHFS 2C).
It took St. Louis, Jr. just seven races to get his four wins, while he also captured one second, third and fourth place finish apiece. St. Louis, who also had one win on Sunday at the Wood County Fair, credits the trainers and horses for his wins.
“Honestly, I am just getting really good horses to drive and some of the trainers that I am driving for have a lot of horses, and it’s working out,” St. Louis said.
“I actually drove quite a few good ones. I drove two good ones for (Herman) Hagerman, a mare, I’m A Beach Lady, and I drove two for Steve Novak — they were both 2-year-olds. One is Spartan Hill and one is Believe in Tom, but they are both very nice horses.”
For the 35-year-old St. Louis, a former Canadian who currently hails from Swartz Creek, Michigan, which is near Flint, harness racing is a family affair. His parents were both involved in the sport since they were teenagers, so he has been around the industry his entire life.
He has been driving professionally for 10 years, and is in demand wherever he goes.
“He’s done really well,” said Wood County owner Steve Bateson from Rudolph, who’s son Case is also a professional driver and his 5-year-old pacer Surfinthecanyon has won six straighr races, half with St. Louis as the driver.
“He’s the leading driver at all the fairs currently,” Bateson continued. “On my horse, he’s drove three of those six wins that Surfinthecanyon has had. I know him pretty well — he drove for me a few times last year.”
St. Louis said the condition of the track at the Wood County Fairgrounds was a big help, too.
“It was wonderful,” St. Louis said. “It was a little beat last year but this year I thought it was really good.”
As far as instruction from the owner or trainer, St. Louis says that matters but he has to be ready to adjust on the fly.
“I pretty much ask them what they like and what they don’t like and then go from there,” St. Louis said. “They don’t really tell me what to do, they just kind of give me a rundown on how the horse is, really.
“I kind of just go by how the horse feels, honestly, and how everybody else is handling the track because it can change a lot by good horses just making a break and not being able to get around the track, and then your whole decision is completely changed.”
On Tuesday, Stoney Ridgetop set a new trotting record in the Dave Chamberlin Signature Series Trot. Stoney Ridgetop tripped the wire in two minutes flat. The 5-year-old gelded son of Wishing Stone was driven and is trained by John Konesky III of Pemberville. The previous trotting track record was 2:00.2, set by I Get It in 2022.
Driver Drew Neill finished second in victories with three, driving Smooth Talkin (OHFS 3C), Bug Juice (OHFS 3F) and Wild Child Annie (OHFS 2F). In total, he competed in 11 races and placed in eight of them.
Emanuel Miller drove his way to victory with Uncle Ruckas (OHFS 3C) and Bella Rain (OHFS 3F) among his six races.
Two others, David Lake and Pierce Henry, were familiar names among drivers on Tuesday. Lake competed in 11 races, while Henry chalked up nine.
Each of them captured one victory apiece as Lake led Rose Run Zeb to victory in the 14th and final race of the night, while Henry won the night’s initial race with Journeyssharpedge. That duo also combined to place 13 times.
Hagerman, Ron Steck and Rosy Weaver each trained multiple winning horses.
Complete Results
Race 1 – $3,715 Pace (OHFS 2C)
1. Journeyssharpedge (2:05.0) by Pierce Henry
2. Allbullandknowbeef
3. Just Right Now
Race 2 – $4,474 Trot (OHFS 2F)
1. A Lil Entoxicated (2:09.4) by Greg Bateson
2. Money Shot
3. Sweet Misery
Race 3 – $4,447 Pace (OHFS 3F)
1. I’m A Beach Lady (1:59.3) by Marc St. Louis, Jr.
2. Go Go Lyla Jane
3. West Malibu
Race 4 – $4,400 Trot (OHFS 3C)
1. Smooth Talkin (2:03.0) by Drew Neill
2. Dublinrockinjerry
3. Wilder
Race 5 – $3,615 Pace (OHFS 2C)
1. Vapor At The Sea (2:02.0) by Marc St. Louis, Jr.
2. It’s Miller Time
3. Pat King Kole
Race 6 – $4,574 Trot (OHFS 2F)
1. Deetz Lighting (2:05.2) by Dan Venier
2. Dixie Road
3. Bank It
Race 7 – $4,447 Pace (OHFS 3F)
1. Bug Juice (2:00.2) by Drew Neill
2. Cinderellas Dragon
3. Outspoken Izzy
Race 8 – $4,500 Trot (OHFS 3C)
1. Uncle Ruckas (2:02.2) by Emanuel Miller
2. Race Day
3. Grover Hill
Race 9 – $3,715 Pace (OHFS 2C)
1. Spartan Hill (2:01.1) by Marc St. Louis, Jr.
2. Mama Said Zip It
3. Legendary Photo
Race 10 – $2,600 Trot (SigSeries)
1. Stoney Ridgetop (2:00.0) by John Konesky III
2. Rose Run Vincent
3. Tulsa Bell
Race 11 – $4,474 Trot (OHFS 2F)
1. Wild Child Annie (2:07.1) by Drew Neill
2. Speed Of An Angel
3. Juu Dee Kaa
Race 12 – $3,615 Pace (OHFS 2C)
1. Believe In Tom (2:01.3) by Marc St. Louis, Jr.
2. Truly Flyin
3. Gorgeous Jet
Race 13 – $4,547 Pace (OHFS 3F)
1. Bella Rain (2:02.0) by Emanuel Miller
2. Camelliaspecial
3. Thebiggestaffair
Race 14 – $4,400 Trot (OHFS 3C)
1. Rose Run Zeb (2:03.4) by David Lake
2. Cape Count
3. Supreme Samson
