Fifteen races for freshmen were carded at the Washington County Fairgrounds – also known as Arden Downs – near The Meadows on Monday (August 15)

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Three divisions of PA Sire Stake filly pacers opened the day under somewhat sunny skies, and Shootoutthelights opened the day with a victory for owner/trainer/driver Roger Hammer. The winning time was 2:05.3 for the Dragon Again filly.

In the second division, Scotts Terror got up in the final stride for the win for driver Wayne Long. Mike Gillock and Tom Haughton own the Western Hanover filly, while Haughton trains. The mile was timed in 2:05.2.

Hammer returned to the winner's circle in the third division...but only as an owner/trainer. Todd Schadel catch-drove Serenity Breeze (Nuclear Breeze) to a 2:06.1 win.

Two $5,934 divisions of the PASS filly trot were up next, and Lima Blue was a come-from-behind winner for trainer/driver Marty Wollam in the first division. The Cantab Hall filly scored in 2:07.4 for Steiner Stock Farms and the Acadia Farm.

In the second split, Desired Outcome, driven by Briant Zendt for the Dunn Stable and trainer Boots Dunn, was a 2:06.4 winner, equaling the track record for freshman trotting fillies. The record was originally held by Meadowbranch Karin, also trained by Dunn, set in 1995. The Tom Ridge filly has now own three times in 10 career starts.

Two $6,145 groups of colt pacers were next to the track in Sire Stake action, and SJs American Guy was an upset winner in the first group. Winless in his first three starts, SJs American Guy (Allamerican Native) covered the mile in 2:04.3 with Wilbur Yoder at the lines. S&J Racing owns the gelding, while Jeff Kirkbride trains.

In the second event, Don Lark’s Danger Hi Joltage (Village Jolt) was a 2:04 winner, as Yoder swept the colt pace in the bike.

Five divisions of colt trotters completed the Sire Stake portion of the day. In the first group, the Dunn/Zendt combination tallied their second win of the day as Redder Than Red was a 2:07.2 winner. It was the third win this season in seven starts for the SJs Caviar gelding.

Avenue Of Dreams, owned, trained and reined by Hammer, won the second division in 2:05.3. Avenue Of Dreams is a son of Broadway Hall.

Todd Schadel then guided Meadowbranch Jack (SJs Caviar), a colt he trains for Hans Enggren, to an open-length 2:05.2 victory in the third division.

Hammer then won the fourth split with another of his own horses, NF Tbone, a son of SJ’s Caviar. The winning time was 2:07.4.

In the final split, Winston Lineweaver guided Ibanez to a 2:06.3 win, passing two rivals in the last quarter mile. Ellen Warren and trainer Eileen Lineweaver co-own the Wonder Dancer gelding.

The skies threatened to open up prior to the start of the Quaker Stakes. In the first division of the Quaker Pace, DVC Itsanattitude beat the rain and his rivals, winning in 2:05.4 for owner/trainer/driver David Brickell. It was the second straight win for the Magical Mike filly.

A downpour hit just as the horses were coming onto the track for the second Quaker pacing split, and Seth First managed to survive the slick footing for his fifth win in six career starts for trainer/driver Steve Schoeffel. Seth, Fred and Dorothy Dowling own the Stonebridge Regal gelding. The winning time was 2:07.3.

In the lone Quaker Trot, High Heels Hanover was a winner over the sloppy track in 2:11 for her second career victory. A daughter of Andover Hall, High Heels Hanover is owned by Virginia and Kathy Schoeffel along with Jim Reuther and Roger Romesser. Steve Schoeffel trains and was in the bike.

Action at Washington continues on Tuesday at 10 a.m. with a forecast for sunny skies, as three-year-olds take to the track. For video highlights from the PA Fair Circuit, visit www.youtube.com/pafairs.

(PHRC)