The Pennsylvania Fair Circuit returned to the Harrisburg area as the Gratz Fairgrounds in Dauphin County hosted the first of two days of stake racing on Sunday

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Two-year-olds were featured on the 14-race card, and Side Ways opened the day with a narrow victory in the Quaker Trot. Brady Brown picked up the winning drive for owners Laura Oldin and Terry Altmeyer. Side Ways, also trained by Altmeyer, trotted in 2:09.2.

In the Quaker Pace, DVC Itsanattitude watched two other horses battle early, then went three-wide late to score in 2:03.3. David Brickell owns, trains and reined the Magical Mike filly.

In the first division of the PASS colt trot, Bob And Bobby was a winner in 2:03.1. Steve Schoeffel drove the Andover Hall gelding for owner Susan Daugherty and trainer Bill Daugherty.

In the second division, Boytown (American Winner) recovered from an early break to win in 2:05.2. Sam Beegle picked up the catch-drive for trainer Mike Gillock and owners Rich Gillock, James and Barbara Richardson.

The third colt trotting split was won by Redder Than Red and driver Winston Lineweaver in 2:02.4, a lifetime mark. The Dunn Stable owns the winner, while Boots Dunn trains the SJs Caviar gelding, now a winner of nine of 14 starts.

Mulligan Bi, another son of Andover Hall, won the fourth and final colt trotting event, surviving a long first-over trip to score in 2:06. James McIlmurray owns, trains and was in the bike.

Three groups of filly trotters were up next, and Keystone Tempo was a winner in the first division for the Schadel family. Bruce and Tanya Schadel own the Cantab Hall filly, Linda Schadel trains, and Tony Schadel drove. The winning time was 2:03.2.

Another Schadel group –- owners Todd and Christine, trainer/driver Todd -- won the second division with Cantab Cabela in 2:05.3.

Sire Cantab Hall then made it a clean sweep when Barefoot Brook scored in the final division in 2:06. Roger Hammer drove for the Dunn Stable and trainer Boots Dunn.

In the PASS two-year-old filly pace first division, Chrome Over was a winner in 2:01.4 for Steve Schoeffel, who also trains and Yankee Cruiser filly. Virginia and Kathy Schoeffel, Marian Schilling and Jim Nelson own the filly, now a four-time winner in her career.

In the second division, Nuclear Photo (Nuclear Breeze) made a power move as the field headed to the three-quarter pole, going on to win in 2:01.1 for driver Timmy Offutt. Joe Offutt trains and co-owns with Samuel Stoltzfus.

In the final filly pacing split, Tom Haughton and Mike Gillock’s Scotts Terror (Western Terror) was a winner in 2:01.4. Gillock also trains the filly, while Todd Schadel drove.

The day ended with two $6,044 divisions of the freshman colt pace for state-breds. Nucular Enemy, by Nuclear Breeze, won for owner/trainer/driver Roger Hammer in 2:00 in the first group. The mile was a new lifetime mark for the colt.

In the second division, Police Car (Yankee Cruiser) picked up the pieces after battling horses went to the first half in :58.4, pacing his mile in 2:02.1 for trainer/driver Steve Schoeffel. Virginia and Kathy Schoeffel, Jim Reuther and Jim Nelson own Police Car, now a winner of three of 14 starts.

Action at Gratz picks back up on Monday at noon, with three-year-olds competing. The circuit then returns to Gratz for four days of racing on Monday, September 26 –- races that were originally slated for Bloomsburg but were moved due to flooding.

For video highlights from the PA Fair Circuit, visit www.youtube.com/pafairs.

(PHRC)