Freshman Pennsylvania-breds were in action at the Dayton Fairgrounds on Saturday (July 7), the first of two days of racing on the half-mile oval.
Driver Brady Brown led the way with three victories on the afternoon, which featured seven first-time winners.
Brown opened the day by guiding Powerful Pulse to a 2:06.3 win in the first division of the PASS two-year-old filly pace. A daughter of Quik Pulse Mindale, Powerful Pulse is now one-for-four in her career for owner Richard Williams and trainer Ted Williams.
In the second filly pacing division, Named Desire won her career debut for trainer Joe Offutt and driver Timmy Offutt. The Real Desire filly, owned by Thomas Cooke, paced in 2:03.3.
The day’s fastest mile came in the third of four filly pacing events, as Dave Brickell guided his own DVC Jaded Attitude to a 2:01.1 score in wire-to-wire fashion. The Magical Mike filly has now won two straight on the fair circuit.
The final filly pacing split was captured by Caviart Ginger, driven by Brown, in 2:05.4. Trainer Jason Bresnahan co-owns with Clyde and Marian Bresnahan and Debbra Kerr. Caviart Ginger, by Real Desire, has now won three of four career starts.
Three groups of colt pacers faced the starter on the afternoon, and the first division was won by Lauxmont Party, a son of Arts Card Trick. Owner Richard Williams and trainer Ted Williams picked up their second win of the afternoon, while Aaron Johnston picked up the catch-drive. The winning time was 2:04.4, as Lauxmont Party earned his first career victory.
Johnston came back and won the second division with one of his own trainees, Cruising Machine. A Yankee Cruiser colt, Cruising Machine remained undefeated in his career, now two-for-two. Tracy Chropek and Gary Johnston own the 2:06.2 winner.
The final colt pace was won by Captain Kubota, driven by Brown for trainer Mike Gillock. Rich Gillock and Jeff Fleming own the McArdle gelding, a first-time winner in 2:03.3.
The remainder of the afternoon belonged to PA-sired trotters, and Lady Broadway earned her second seasonal win in four starts for driver Bryce Truitt to kick things off. Owned by trainer John McMullen and Michelle McMullen, Lady Broadway (Broadway Hall) trotted in 2:12.3.
First-time starter Classical Hooray (Chip Chip Hooray) won the second division, going wire-to-wire in 2:06.3 for trainer-driver Steve Schoeffel. Stephen Lander and Kathy Schoeffel own Classical Hooray.
Another first-time starter, Starla, won the final filly trot for owner Fred Polk and trainer Jim Criss. The Garth Vader filly was driven to a 2:10.4 win by Chris Shaw.
Three groups of colt trotters completed the day, with wins earned by Prince Lauxmont (Supernatural), Regal Glide (Yankee Glide) and Albany House (Andover Hall).
Prince Lauxmont won the day’s tightest finish, a three-horse photo, covering the mile in 2:09.2 for trainer-driver Wayne Long. Long co-owns with Joyce Lineweaver.
Bill Daugherty trains and reined Regal Glide to a 2:10.1 triumph for owner Susan Daugherty.
Roger Hammer then guided Albany House to a 2:04.3 win, the colt’s third in four starts. Hammer trains and co-owns with the Ervin Miller Stable.
Pennsylvania Sire Stakes for three-year-olds were featured at the Dayton Fairgrounds on Sunday (July 8).
Two $5,807 divisions of the PASS colt trot opened the card, and Bob And Bobby, by Andover Hall, made quick work of his opponents in the first race. Driven by Steve Schoeffel for trainer Bill Daugherty, Bob And Bobby went right to the lead out of the gate and never looked back, trotting in 2:03.2. Susan Daugherty owns the winner.
In the second division, Ibanez took the early lead and cut the mile for driver Eric Neal, while Mulligan Bi, driven by James McIlmurray, sat the pocket. Mulligan Bi tipped at the three-quarter pole to challenge, and the pair appeared to cross the finish line side by side. However, the photo revealed that Ibanez held on by a whisker for his second win of the season for owners Eileen Lineweaver and Ellen Warren. Randy Neal trains the winner, who covered the mile in 2:02.2.
Four divisions of the three-year-old filly pace were also held, and Roger Hammer trainees captured two events. Paints Hall (Blissfull Hall), catch-driven by Chris Shaw, scored in 2:01.4, while Shootoutthelights (Dragon Again) won with Hammer at the lines in 2:04.4.
Wanna Go Fast, trained and driven by Steve Schoeffel, won her division in 2:02.3, earning her fourth straight victory on the circuit. Brooke Schoeffel and Trish Adams own the Yankee Cruiser filly.
The final division was won by Kaitlin Kir, owned by Bill Kirwan and trained by John McMullen. Kaitlin Kir, by No Pan Intended, paced in 2:02.2 with David Brickell in the bike.
In the filly trotting ranks, Magnolia Grace, driven by Brickell for owner-trainer Jack Claypoole, trotted in 2:06.4 to capture the first $5,817 division. Brickell then made it a clean sweep by guiding Erin Kristen to a 2:07.3 win for the Kirwan/McMullen combination. Magnolia Grace is a daughter of Glidemaster, while Erin Kristen is a filly by Chip Chip Hooray.
Colt pacers finised the day, and the first two divisions went to the same connections – owners Andray Farm and Lindwood Farms, trainer Randy Neal and driver Eric Neal. First up was McJestic, a son of McArdle. Eric Neal sent him to the front out of the gate from the inside post, cutting the quarter in :29.4. Nucular Enemy, driven by Hammer, started in the second tier and moved up alongside at the half in 1:00.4, and the pair battled as a team by the three-quarter pole in 1:29.2. McJestic then pulled away in the stretch, pacing the fastest mile on the fair circuit so far this season, 1:59.1.
In the second division, McHoffman, also by McArdle, started in the second tier from post seven, and made an extended first-over bid work, as he won for the first time in his fifth career outing. Like his stablemate, McHoffman is a son of McArdle.
The day’s final race was captured by Anotherbugga (Allamerican Ingot), a Maryland-invader for owner-trainer John Bell. Anotherbugga is now two-for-two on the PA circuit this summer after pacing in 2:02.2 for catch driver Wayne Long.
Racing on the circuit now moves to the middle of the state, for two days of racing next weekend at the Gratz Fairgrounds in Dauphin County, near Harrisburg.
(PA Fair Harness Horsemen's Association)