Harness racing in Pennsylvania wrapped up at two fairs on Wednesday (August 31), with action at Wattsburg in Erie County and Indiana in Indiana County

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At Wattsburg, three-year-olds competed in 11 heats, led off by Graciously’s win in the Quaker Trot. Roger Hammer guided the Boots Dunn trainee, owned by the Dunn Stable, to a 2:15.1 win.

In the Quaker Pace, Bermuda Rough won in 2:06 for driver Chris Shaw. Jason Shaw owns and trains the gelding.

Two $5,750 divisions of the PA Sire Stake sophomore colt trot were up next, and the first division was captured by Georgian Diablo and driver Bill Daugherty. Jim Daugherty owns and trains the Great George Two gelding, now an eight-time winner on the season. The winning time was 2:09.3.

In the second group, S J Better Days was an easy winner in 2:08.2 for the Dunn/Hammer combination. S J Better Days, a son of SJs Caviar, topped the $50,000 mark in earnings for the season with the victory.

Two divisons of the sophomore colt pace were up next, with victories earned by Stripen Star (No Pan Intended) and Evening Shadows (Blissfull Hall). Stripen Star gave the Shaw Stable their second win of the day, timed in 2:03.2 Evening Shadows, driven by Jordon Miller for owner/trainer Charles Von See, overcame a second-tier start, sweeping to the lead just past the opening quarter. The gelding went on to win in 2:03, the fastest mile of the meet.

Filly pacers were up next in PASS action, and Caramel Chinno won the first division for owner/trainer/driver Roger Hammer in 2:03.3, a track record for three-year-old pacing fillies. Caramel Chinno is a daughter of Allamerican Native. Hammer then swept the filly pace by guiding Wishfullartist (Real Artist) to a 2:04.4 win in the second split.

Hammer’s fifth winning drive of the day came in the first of three filly trotting Sire Stakes, as Lyrical Lady won for the Dunn Stable and trainer Boots Dunn. The daughter of Cantab Hall covered the mile in 2:08.4.

Trainer/driver Steve Schoeffel then won the final two divisions, guiding both Mynah Hanover and My Good Side to identical 2:06.3 miles. Mynah Hanover, by Cantab Hall, is owned by Stephen Lander, Virginia and Kathy Schoeffel. My Good Side, by Broadway Hall, is owned by Tom Barrett.

At Indiana, five Quaker Stakes were carded. In the lone division of the two-year-old Quaker Trot, Mycology won in 2:17 for owner Genevieve Louk, trainer Joe Offutt and driver Wayne Long. Mycology is a colt by Tejano.

In the Quaker two-year-old pace, Long and Offutt repeated their success, this time with Kingoftheroad. The Badlands Hanover colt paced in 2:06 for his third straight win.

Local favourite Juniata County won the first division of the Quaker three-year-old trot, as the filly covered the mile in 2:05.4. John and Michelle McMullen own the winner, while Long made it three-for-three in the bike.

In the second division, RT Girls Lie Too (Ebanks) scored in 2:09.4 for the Brocious Racing Stable and trainer/driver Bobby Rougeaux.

The day’s final event, the Quaker three-year-old pace, was won by SJs Patriot, catch-driven by Jim Dodson. Terry Altmeyer trains the Blissfull Hall gelding for S&J Racing LLC.

The circuit next races on Friday morning at 10 a.m. at the Great Stoneboro Fair.

Video highlights from Indiana and Wattsburg are available below.

(PHRC)