The Pennsylvania fair circuit checked into the Crawford County Fair in the northwestern part of the state for two days of racing on Wednesday and Thursday. Each day there was a free-for-all (FFA) event honouring the late local legend Walter “Boots” Dunn in addition to the state Fair Sire Stakes.

Boots’s longtime friendly rival Roger Hammer swept the two divisions of the FFA pace, both in 2:02 with the Nuclear Breeze gelding R N Nate, a horse which he bred, owns, trains and drove, and with Mcjaggersonthemove, who was claimed for $7,000 by owner-trainer Ryan Shafer and has now three for five for his new connections. Both horses overcame the outside post six.

The FFA trot was won by son of Lucky Chucky Thanks For Playin, who came to town having won his last four starts at Ocean Downs, and he gave new owner-trainer-driver Lester Mullet a quick return with a 2:06 tally.

In the Fair Sire Stakes, last year’s terror Venier Hanover continued his reign over the fair circuit as the Well Said gelding, who set eight divisional track records at the fairs this year including the local freshman standard, strung together his fourth straight victory after a slow start to his campaign.

Venier Hanover won in 2:01.2, fastest of the meet, over Cirrus De Vie. Here Dave Brickell got a :28.1 individual last quarter out of Venier Hanover to catch Cirrus De Vie by two lengths for trainer-driver Brickell, also co-owner with Mitchell York. Hammer’s Cirrus De Vie may be feeling the wrath of the rejuvenated Venier, but the veteran horseman won the other section of the “A” colt pace in 2:02.2 with Marvalous Falcon, again in a breeder-owner-trainer-driver capacity.

Almost as quick as Venier Hanover (just a tick behind in final time) was the Somebeachsomewhere sophomore filly Keystone Diamond, who has now won her last three fair outings for trainer-driver Todd Schadel, who shares ownership with Dr. John Egloff.

On the trotting side, the fillies went faster than the colts among both the sophomores and freshmen. Swiftest was another Todd Schadel pupil, Critical Hanover, a daughter of Crazed who is owned by his wife Christine and his son Cody. Todd guided her to a 2:03.4 ¾-length victory over Blow Back. These two are marvels of consistency: Critical Hanover is now 8-5-3-0 at the fairs, Blow Back 9-5-4-0.

Honors among the freshmen were won by the Muscle Massive–R T Sun Poco miss RT Gloria De Dios, now unbeaten in three fair starts with a 2:06.2 score for driver Kyle Bolon, trainer Bob Rougeaux III, and the Brocious Racing Stable Inc.

The freshman pacing filly Crew Sock Hanover has now won five straight at the fairs after Well Said–Chantal Hall baby stepped home first in 2:03.1 for Team Venier Hanover, Dave Brickell and Mitchell York.

Fastest of all the freshmen was yet another Todd Schadelite, the gelding Motive Hanover, also by Well Said and out of Maeve Hanover, who has now taken three straight after a 2:02.3 tour of the double oval for Todd and co-owner/son Cody.

The Pennsylvania fair circuit again “splits” this coming week, with racing at Indiana on Monday and Tuesday and Wattsburg (Erie County) on Tuesday and Wednesday.

(With files from the PHHA)