Gratz Action Continues With Sophomores
Sophomore Pennsylvania-breds were in action on Sunday, July 10 at the Gratz, Pennsylvania fairgrounds
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Under sunny skies and 90 degree heat, colt pacers Ya Gotta Go (Metropolitan) and Stealth Flight (Blissfull Hall) heated things up early, cutting fractions of :27.3 and :56.3 on the half mile oval. Ya Gotta Go and driver Todd Schadel took the field by the three-quarter pole in 1:27.2, before holding off a challenge by Stealth Flight and driver Steve Schoeffel in the stretch, winning by a neck in 1:58.3. Ya Gotta Go is owned by Rich Gillock and trained by Mike Gillock.
In the second colt pace, Steuben Papale, leased and trained by Syl King, won his first career race, scoring in 1:59.1 for driver Tony Schadel. Steuben Papale is a son of Four Starzzz Shark.
Acardi, driven by Timmy Offutt, won the final colt pacing event in 2:00.1. The McArdle gelding is owned by Joe and Karen Offutt.
Two $5,855 divisions of the sophomore PASS filly pace were up next, and Wishfullartist (Real Artist) won the first split in 2:02.3. Roger Hammer owns, trains and was in the bike.
Dragon Dance, owned by the Horse Around Stable, won the second division in 1:58.3 for trainer-driver Todd Schadel. Dragon Dance is a daughter of Dragon Again.
Next up, S J Better Days, owned by the Dunn Stable, trained by Boots Dunn and driven by Hammer, established a new track record for three-year-old trotting colts, winning from the pocket in 1:58.4. Keystone Wild Card (SJs Caviar) and Todd Schadel cut fractions of :29.2, :59.2 and 1:29.1, settling for second. The mile was the second fastest trotting event in the history of the Gratz track.
The final two colt trotting divisions were won by driver Bill Daugherty, Jr. First up was Cadence Hall (Chip Chip Hooray), a 2:01.3 winner for owner Susan Daugherty. Next, it was Georgian Diablo scoring in 2:02.1. Jim Daugherty owns and trains the Great George Two gelding.
Three groups of sophomore filly trotters concluded the day. In the first split, Mynah Hanover went wire-to-wire for trainer-driver Steve Schoeffel in 2:02.4. Virginia and Kathy Schoeffel and Marian Schilling own the Cantab Hall filly.
Graciously, a filly by SJs Caviar, won the second division in 2:05.1 for catch driver Chris Shaw. The Dunn Stable owns, while Boots Dunn earned his second training win of the day.
Finally, Norma Jean Hall won the meet’s last race, scoring from the pocket in 2:01.1. Todd Schadel catch drove for trainer Dan Walski and Www Ventures, LLC.
Up next on the circuit is a two-day Sire Stake meet at Dayton, Pennsylvania, beginning Saturday at 3 p.m.
(PHRC)
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