Action on the Pennsylvania Fair Circuit split into two venues, one on each side of the state, forcing horsemen to make a choice in their travel plans
.
On the western side of the state at the Greene County Fairgrounds in Waynesburg, Keystone Wyatt opened the day with a win in the PA Sire Stake Two-Year-Old Colt Trot. Brian Zendt guided the Cantab Hall gelding to his first career win, timed in 2:08.1 for owners Bill Zendt and Gary Saul.
In the second colt trotting division, Mulligan Bi (Andover Hall), an invader from Michigan for owner/trainer/driver James McIlmurray, scored in 2:08.3 to remain undefeated in his two-race career.
The final colt trot was captured by Island Gillie, a Tom Ridge gelding. Steve Schoeffel trains and drove the winner for owners Stephen Lander, Kathy and Virginia Schoeffel. The winning time was 2:08.3, a lifetime mark.
Two $5,945 divisions of the PASS Trot for freshman fillies were up next, and the Dunn Stable, trainer Boots Dunn and driver Brian Zendt swept both events. Cannot Tell A Lie (Glidemaster) trotted in 2:07, while stablemate Barefoot Brook (Cantab Hall) was one-fifth of a second slower.
Three divisions of colt pacers next faced the starter in sire stake competition, with Cyrus Seelster scoring in the first. Chris Oluvic owns and trains the son of Dragon Again, while Eddie McNeight was in the bike for the 2:02.1 win, by far the fastest mile of the day.
Police Car (Yankee Cruiser) won the second division in 2:06.1 on the front end for trainer/driver Steve Schoeffel. Virginia and Kathy Schoeffel, Jim Reuther and Jim Nelson own the winner.
In the third split, Summer Foolery won for the second time this season for owner/driver Chris Shaw. Jason Shaw trains the winner, a colt by I Am A Fool. The winning time was 2:09.1.
In the first division of the PASS filly pace, NF Citiscape earned her first career win, pacing in 2:07.3 for Steve Schoeffel. Virginia and Kathy Schoeffel and Roger Romesser own the Metropolitan filly.
Steve Schoeffel won his fourth of the day in the second division, guiding Wanna Go Fast, another filly out of his stable, to a 2:05.2 win. Trish Adams and Brook Schoeffel own the Yankee Cruiser filly.
Chris Shaw’s second win of the day came in the third split with My Philipino Baby, a daughter of Metropolitan. Owner Fred Polk and trainer James Criss brought the filly in from Ohio for her first career win, timed in 2:07.1.
In the lone division of the Quaker Stake for freshman trotters, The Raincatcher, driven by Steve Schoeffel for trainer Terry Altmeyer, scored in 2:07.3. Bill Atlmeyer owns the SJs Caviar filly.
In Quaker pacing action, Crazy Luck (Luck Of The Gold) won for the first time in his career, pacing in 2:07.3 for driver Dan Rawlings. Trainer Jean Rastetter co-owns with Ron Harvey.
The final Quaker pace was won by Seth First, as Steve Schoeffel picked up his sixth driving win and fifth training win of the day. Seth, Fred and Dorothy Dowling own the winner, a son of Stonebridge Regal. The winning time was 2:06.1.
In the Northeast corner of the state in Honesdale, action was in full swing at the Wayne County Fairgrounds.
Coletech, out of the Syl King Stable, won the first of two $5,933 PASS two-year-old colt trotting divisions. Wayne Long guided the High Tech colt to his first career win, timed in 2:09.1.
In the second division, first-time starter Victoryland (SJs Caviar) won in 2:09.3 for trainer/driver Christopher Freck.
Two $6,044 splits of the freshman colt pace for state-breds were next, and Bedford, Pennsylvania-native Roger Hammer won the first with Nucular Enemy (Nuclear Breeze) in 2:03.3. A Bedford, Pennsylvania-native won the second split as well, but this time it was Sam Beegle, as he guided Fly Away (Allamerican Native) to a 2:06 victory.
In the first of three PASS filly pacing events for freshmen, Shootoutthelights (Dragon Again) gave Hammer his second win of the day, pacing in 2:07.3. Owner/trainer/driver Dave Brickell then captured the second split with Caribe, now a five-time winner on the season. The winning time was 2:04.4.
In the final sire stake of the day, Lima Beauty won for the first time in her career for trainer/driver Bobby Rougeaux. The Yankee Cruiser filly scored in 2:05.3.
In overnight action, Allamerican Quiver and driver David Yarock won the Free-For-All Pace in 2:06.2, while JC Mik Mac Jillio, driven by Brickell, trotted in 2:06.2 to win the FFA Trot.
Action continues on Thursday and both Waynesburg and Honesdale. For video highlights from the PA Fair Circuit, visit www.youtube.com/pafairs.
(PHRC)