Rain showers and a deep track greeted freshman on the opening day of the Pennsylvania Fair Circuit’s 20-stop tour
. Nine races were carded at the Crawford County Fairgrounds in Meadville, all PA Sire Stake events.
Roger Hammer, last year’s dash winning champion on the circuit, picked up where he left off in 2010, capturing the day’s first race with Paints Hall, a daughter of Blissfull Hall. The chestnut filly, owned by Hammer in partnership with Frank Dettore, was the lone horse entered on the day with previous racing experience, having posted a pair of third place finishes in pari-mutuel efforts. Hammer sent the filly right to the lead, and she cruised to a 2:08.3 victory.
In the second filly pacing split, Caribe, driven by her owner-trainer Dave Brickell, scored from the pocket in 2:08.3. The Yankee Cruiser filly passed front-running Serenity Breeze (Hammer) in the closing strides.
Undeterred, Hammer returned to the winner's circle in the final division, guiding his own Nuclear Breeze filly, Hot Latte, to victory in another identical 2:08.3 clocking.
The day’s richest event, the two-year-old PASS filly trot, carried a purse of $11,588 for the lone six-horse field. Cannot Tell A Lie, a Glidemaster filly, gave Hammer his third driving win of the day, this one as a catch-driver for the Dunn Stable and trainer Boots Dunn. The winning time was 2:10.4 over the wet track.
In the first of three colt pacing divisions, Cyrus Seelster, a son of Dragon Again, came from the back of the pack and swept the field with a three-wide move near the three-quarter pole, going on to win in 2:09.2. Chris Oluvic owns and trains, while Eddie McNeight was the winning driver.
In the second division, Danger Hi Joltage went wire-to-wire for driver Wilbur Yoder in 2:07.2. Don Lark owns and trains the Village Jolt colt.
The final group winner was Top Of The Mark, who led every step of the way for driver JC Miller, Jr. Harry Locke owns the Western Terror colt, while Rich Gillock trains. The time was 2:08.4.
Freshman colt trotters concluded the day’s action, with victories earned by three horses in just two events. In the first split, MMs Yankee (Malabar Millennium) and Redder Than Red (SJs Caviar) could not be separated at the wire, resulting in a dead heat. MMs Yankee, owned by Jack and Sharon Claypoole, is trained and was driven by Bill Daugherty Jr. Redder Than Red gave the Dunn Stable and trainer Boots Dunn their second win of the day, while Hammer picked up his fourth winning drive. The duo crossed the wire in 2:10.1.
In the final event, Caspian Boko, trained and driven by Kris Rickert, shot up the inside in the stretch and passed a pair of battling horses (Sharpshooter G and Bob And Bobby) to win in 2:11.3. Dale Wareham and Lou DiNicola own the winner, a son of SJs Caviar.
Action at Meadville continues on Sunday, with 11 PA Sire Stake events slated for three-year-olds.
(PHRC)