Trainer Steve Schoeffel and driver Brady Brown — the master and his protégé — concluded their successful Pennsylvania Fairs season by notching a pair of fairs championships Saturday at The Meadows Racetrack & Casino.
The Meadows hosted all eight fairs finals, each worth $25,000, to cap its current meeting. Following a break of about three weeks, the track will stage its reopening weekend with a 12:55 p.m. card Friday, Oct. 30, and an 11:25 a.m. program the following day. Those cards will complement The Meadows' simulcast of the Thoroughbred Breeders Cup.
Schoeffel, a veteran of about 30 years at the fairs and raceways, has turned over many of his drives to the 22-year-old Brown, with outstanding results. Brown ranked fourth in fair wins this season and Schoeffel fourth in training victories. On Saturday, they triumphed with Royaltyhasarrived (three-year-old colt pace) and Piano Rose (three-year-old filly trot).
Also shining was Eric Ledford, who never had driven in a Pennsylvania Fairs race in his career, but he may want to consider joining the circuit regularly. He collected wins with Worthy Jackie (two-year-old filly pace) Wagon Master (two-year-old colt pace).
“I’ve driven in fairs, tons of them, in Illinois and Ohio,” he said. “It was always fun.”
Might he consider more activity on the Pennsylvania circuit?
“In the finals, maybe,” he said with a smile.
A recap of the championships:
Three-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Pacers — Royaltyhasarrived
The Western Terror-Her Mattjesty gelding already was a 15-time winner — including a streak of 10 straight — this year, so his victory hardly was surprising. He retook for Brown past the quarter and scored in 1:54.4, three and a quarter lengths better than John Paul. RN Nate finished third.
“He was in the stallion series last year, but hurt himself,” Schoeffel said of his $15,000 yearling acquisition. “So I didn’t stake him anywhere but the fairs. I wanted to keep it easy on him and not have him chasing horses. It worked out perfect.”
Virginia Schoeffel, Kathy Schoeffel and Michael Munn campaign Royaltyhasarrived.
Two-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Trotters — Major Matter
With his recent victory in a Keystone Classic split, Major Matter appeared to lay over the field. That’s the way the race unfolded, as the Explosive Matter-Tahiti Springs gelding grabbed the lead early and drew off to prevail in 1:57.3 by five lengths over Keystone Blade. OMG Hanover earned show.
“He was very good tonight,” said winning driver Rick Beinhauer, who bred and owns Major Matter with Regina Beinhauer. “He was a little sore his last start, so we had to take care of that. He’s a handy little horse and drives like a Cadillac — quick as a cat out of the gate.”
Three-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Trotters — Simeon
As Major Matter, Simeon boasted raceway and stakes victories, and he was just as dominant, prevailing on the front end in 1:58 for trainer/driver David Wade. The pocket-sitting Winborne Hanover, last year’s freshman fairs champ, was a length back in second, while Silver Sierra rallied for show.
“His ability indicated to me that he was barely good enough for the stallion series,” said Wade, who owns the Andover Hall-Keystone Ariana gelding — an $11,000 yearling purchase — with Anne Wade, Gerald Brittingham and William Peel III. “The next in the progression is the fairs. He won’t race anymore this year. That’s a good way to go out.”
Two-Year-Old Filly Trotters — Waterview Hanover
Winborne Hanover came up a touch short, but his half-sister, Waterview Hanover (Explosive Matter-Wherley), upheld the family honour by going three-wide down the backside and scoring an 11-1 upset victory for Dick Stillings. The 2:00.1 win was a pleasant surprise for William Daugherty Jr., who purchased the filly for $28,000 and trains her for Susan Dougherty.
“When I saw Dick go three-wide, I was afraid she would pull herself up,” he said. “She’s been known to do that, although not so much in a race. I was thinking maybe fourth or fifth.”
Two-Year-Old Filly Pacers — Worthy Jackie
Worthy Jackie and Ledford had a tall order — find a way to defeat Unbeamlieveable, who had lost only once in 14 starts. But they did it, moving second over to nail the favourite by a neck in 1:59.3. The first-over Gymnast Hanover completed the ticket.
“You wouldn’t think going into the race that you could ever beat that other filly,” Ledford said. “But the trip worked out well, and she raced well. At the top of the stretch, I thought I had it.”
Sam Beegle trains the daughter of Sharks Gesture-Jakes Lil Sis for Bay Pond Racing Stable.
Three-Year-Old Filly Pacers — Crumcake
Keystone I Wish was loose on the lead, but tiring because of swift fractions. That was the signal for Eric Neal to tip Crumcake three-wide down the backside and take aim at the leader. Crumcake triumphed in 1:57.1, three and three-quarter lengths better than the weary Keystone I Wish, with Sandslittledragon third.
“I think Eric was concerned that everybody would leave,” said Pat Medors, who trains the homebred daughter of KF St Patrick-Cookie Crombie for Mike Medors and Yvonne Medors. “He made the right move apparently, but it was a long way to come. She’s been a lot of fun this year. I was tickled to death.”
Two-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Pacers — Wagon Master
Ledford didn’t want Wagon Master on the lead early and so found himself third over. But the son of Western Terror-Free At Last K made it work despite drifting wide in the lane, scoring in 1:58.1. Well Lets See was second, three lengths back, with early leader Billys Falcon third.
“They said he has one big brush, and don’t use it early or you won’t have anything late,” Ledford said. “He was running out a little bit; on the half-mile track, he usually runs in.”
Mike Gillock conditions Wagon Master for Bob Key.
Three-Year-Old Filly Trotters — Piano Rose
Piano Rose stalked her stablemate, Missive, from the pocket, then blew by in the stretch to down her by two lengths in 1:59.1. Lucky Shiimm closed well for third.
“I was pretty confident about her,” Brown said. “Last time I raced her here, she left from the eight-hole pretty good. She’s always been able to leave, but tonight was probably the best she’s been.”
Ralph Del Priore Jr. owns Piano Rose, a daughter of Muscle Massive-Jettys Girl.
(With files from The Meadows)