The Pennsylvania harness racing fair circuit returned to the Lycoming County fairgrounds on Wednesday and Thursday – after a “two-day meet” was held earlier, the “fair meet” (without a fair) took place. The horses and horsemen did well despite racing over a less-than-optimal surface, with a four-second variant given both days.
Nothing seems to bother the Father Patrick – Princess Pearl freshman trotting colt Capo Dei Capi, who became the only fair horse to win four times by keeping his career record, all at the fairs, clean. The timer even failed during his “A” Sire Stakes event, but the talented youngster just kept on going for driver Tony and trainer/wife Linda Schadel, who as owners has seen their baby win $11,998 already.
The team of co-owner/trainer Mitchell York and co-owner/driver Dave Brickell combined to sweep the two-year-old pacing events. The Artspeak – Subtle Charm gelding Seth Hanover, the fastest freshman on the circuit so far, won again in 2:04.3, fastest of the Hughesville freshman miles, while in the filly events the Betting Line – Lazan Hanover miss Lazy Day Hanover kept her fair record unblemished in three starts with a 2:05.3 victory and the A Rocknroll Dance – Tiamo miss Tamogonedancen broke her maiden in 2:06.3.
All three divisional winners among the three-year-old pacing males carries some kind of distinction. The Delmarvalous gelding Lifes Marvalous had the meet’s fastest mile, 2:03.4, after his third fair win this season for owner/trainer/driver Roger Hammer; The Ponder colt Champ Charbel, last year’s Fair Championship winner, was victorious in 2:04.4 for driver Eric Neal and owner/trainer Joe Karrat; and the fastest winner at the state’s fairs this year, Full Send with a 1:57.4 at Silver Springs Ranch, remained unbeaten in two fair starts, with the Western Ideal gelding needing only 2:07.1 in succeeding for driver Wayne Long, trainer Eli Scott Jr., and Chesapeake Equine Clinic Inc.
The two sophomore pacing fillies who dead-heated to win in their two-year-old Fair Championship both won at the meet: the A Rocknroll Dance filly Dream Dancing, winning her third straight race (including a Stallion Series event) in 2:05.3 for Team Brickell / York, and the Captaintreacherous miss Silly But Serious, home in 2:06.3 for driver Shawn Johnston and trainer Gary Johnston, the latter co-owner with Joyce Benkart.
Todd Schadel proved an overwhelming force in both the training and driving ranks at Hughesville, running up nine wins in both categories. In seasonal driving stats, his 26 wins is double his nearest competitor, brother Tony; on the conditioning side, he holds a 25-16 edge over Roger Hammer.
The PA fair circuit now wheels into Clearfield for racing on Sunday and Monday at 1:00 p.m.
(Pennsylvania Fair Harness Horsemen Association, Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen’s Association, and Meadows Standardbred Owners Association partnership)