Go Go Jacki Jo and driver Michael Detweiler turned in an impressive mile to kick of the Indiana Sired Fair Circuit (ISFC) racing at the Shelby County Fairgrounds Wednesday, Aug. 24. The duo completed the mile in a new lifetime best of 2:02.2 en route to their third win this season.
Go Go Jacki Jo and Michael Detweiler fend off a late rally by Fanfoss and Mark Herschberger to win the first of three divisions of two-year-old pacing fillies in the Indiana Sired Fair Circuit Wed. Aug. 24 at the Shelby County Fairgrounds. Photo by Tammy Knox
Go Go Jacki Jo took advantage of her inside post one and powered out to the lead with Fanfoss and Mark Herschberger sitting second through the quarter in :30.0. Lil Miss Patriot and Doug Rideout were up to challenge on the outside at the half in 1:00.1, but Go Go Jacki Jo was persistent and continued to lead the way through the three-quarters in 1:30.1. Around the final turn, she was able to get some distance between her and the field with Fanfoss closing the gap along the inside for the stretch drive.
In the stretch, Herschberger pulled Fanfoss out to challenge Go Go Jacki Jo, but the filly was able to fend off her top spot by three-quarters of a length for the win. Pink Ruby and Jay Cross moved in for third.
Go Go Jacki Jo is owned by Jack Webb of Rushville. Leander Schwartz trains the Luck Be Withyou filly that is named after Webb’s daughter Jacki. She now has 13 starts for her connections and bumped her career earnings up to more than $12,000 with the win.
Webb, a longtime participant in Standardbred racing, was trackside to greet the filly for her win photo. He was the initial owner of the great pacing mare Kimmee Lyn, who earned a mark of 1:51.4 during her two-year-old campaign under the direction of trainer Jeff Edwards. The gray mare went on to a successful career as a brood mare as well, producing four winners, including Henry Clay, who earned more than $326,000 and a mark of 1:49.4 during his racing career in the early 2000s.
In the other two divisions of ISFC action for two-year-old pacing fillies, Swartz Bros Alice and Gerald Miller turned in a gate to wire effort in 2:02.0. The Panther Hanover filly, owned by Kyle Bontrager, won by five and a half lengths over Vel miss Taylor and Bradley Ferguson. Velsandyslilshootr and Carson Conrad finished third. Miller also trains Swartz Bros Alice who won her first race in the event in her sixth career start.
In the final division, another lightly raced filly turned in an impressive performance as Mystic Melissa and Joey Putnam were gate to wire winners. Rockin Ruthie and Clint Coy sat patiently at their back the entire way and made a move in the stretch, but Mystic Melissa was too strong, winning by one and one-quarter length in 2:00.4, a final quarter in :29.3. Momma’s The Queen and Carson Conrad recovered from an impeded break at the start to finish third.
The ISFC, now in its “second chance” phase for Series 2, moves to Frankfort for it’s next stop Saturday, Sept. 3 with a start time of 11 a.m. Prior to that, the ISA Elite program will be held at the Indiana State Fairgrounds Monday, Aug. 29 beginning at 11 a.m.