Sophomore pacing gelding Commander Crunch, purchased only nine days ago, equalled the all-age track record of 1:55.2 at the Bedford Fair during Pennsylvania Fair Sire Stakes competition for three-year-olds on Friday, July 24.
The time of 1:55.2 had been recorded by the filly Tiamogonedancen in 2021 and the gelding Captaincountrystar in 2023.
Commander Crunch, owned by trainer Jeffrey Indof along with Misty Winkler of Rostraver Township, Pennsylvania, came to the Keystone State after the transfer and promptly won at Clearfield three days ago. Then at Bedford, after posting fractions of :29.2, :58.3 and 1:27.2, he reached the line in record time and got two lines in the Bedford books (all-age and divisional) under the guidance of 20-year-old Jesse Barnard.
The Captain Crunch-Go For Sand gelding, who had been racing in Delaware for his previous connections, has five wins in 28 career starts and $55,755 in earnings.
The Pennsylvania Fair Circuit now heads to the Somerset County Fair in Meyersdale, just some 40 miles away in the southwestern part of the state. Post time will be at 1 p.m. for both Wednesday, July 29 with two-year-olds racing and Thursday, July 30 with three-year-olds in action. Entries for Meyersdale are due on Monday, through the usual methods.
(With files from Pennsylvania Fair Harness Horsemen Association, Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen’s Association & Meadows Standardbred Owners Association)