The Pennsylvania Fair harness racing circuit checked in right down the road from The Meadows to have two days of Fair Sire Stakes over Washington Fair, the grounds that used to play host to the Grand Circuit when it was known as Arden Downs.

The two-year-olds produced the fastest mile of the session on Sunday’s (Aug. 11) card, as the Sweet Lou – Breakheart Pass pacing gelding Compensate Me is undefeated at two starts at the fairs, both victories in 2:00.3 for driver Jeremy Indof, trainer Jeff Indof, and the ubiquitous Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. The fast clockings come as no surprise, since Compensate Me’s winning streak is actually at three – with the first a 1:54.1 win at The Meadows.

Before any other “A” Fair Sire Stakes performer could get to five wins, the Cantab Hall – Cocktail Attire trotting filly Classy Cocktail notched a sixth “A” victory. Trainer/driver Tony Schadel, co-owner with his wife Linda, then completed a sweep of the “A” races with their Just A Sheila.           

Aaron Johnston went Tony Schadel one better in the two-year-old filly pace ranks, taking both “A” cuts as trainer/driver with Always B Momma (2:05.1) and Its Written (2:05), then also catch-driving a “B” winner to a much faster clocking in breaking her maiden, the Captain Crunch – Discoforadollar miss Diamond Destiny, home in 2:02.1 for trainer Neil Balcerak. 

Monday’s (Aug. 12) three-year-old action saw the Fordham Road trotting filly Loveyoubunches the first sophomore to five “A” triumphs – and even more remarkable, for the first time in her fair campaign the speedball did not set a track record for trainer/driver Todd Schadel, co-owner with his wife Christine and Rick and Regina Beinhauer.

Joining Loveyoubunches at five fair wins was the Betting Line gelding Twiggs Pub; the other top-flight Betting Line gelding in this division is Ante Up Hanover, who won in 2:02.4, a tick faster than Twiggs Pub. Both race for Team Todd Schadel. The colts’ filly stablemate and yet another Betting Line, Showboat Hanover, was the fastest sophomore at Washington with a 2:00.4 time; she and Ante Up Hanover were 2023 Fair Championship winners. 

Joint driver honours went to Aaron Johnston and Todd Schadel – Johnston with his five winners on Sunday, Schadel with his five on Monday.

The cards are already drawn for the next stop on the Pennsy twicearound circuit, as Dayton PA will host two-year-old FSS racing at noon on Wednesday and three-year-olds at 5 p.m. on Thursday.

(Pennsylvania Fair Harness Horsemen’s Association, Meadows Standardbred Owners Association, and Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen’s Association partnership)