Sophomores took to the track at the Greene County Fairgrounds in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania on Friday (August 10) in PA Sire Stake and Quaker Stake events.
Two $5,800 divisions of the PASS colt trot started the card, and Ibanez took advantage of a rare break by Bob And Bobby, getting up for a win in 2:10. Dan Rawlings, a regular at The Meadows making his first start on the fair circuit this year, drove Ibanez to the win for trainer Randy Neal. Ellen Warren and Eileen Lineweaver own the Wonder Dancer gelding. Ona Wyoming Trip was second, while Bob And Bobby recovered to be third.
The second division held less mystery, as Mulligan Bi went right to the lead and never looked back, going on to a 2:08.3 win for owner, trainer and driver Jim McIlmurray. Mulligan Bi, by Andover Hall, has now won four of 10 on the year.
In the first $5,800 filly trotting sire stake, Magnolia Grace scored for catch-driver Brad Provost in 2:09.3. The Glidemaster filly is owned by Jack and Sharon Claypoole and trained by Bill Kreutzer.
The second filly trot was captured by Winners Streak, a fair newcomer. Rawlings earned the winning drive for trainer Rick Beinhauer, who co-owns with his wife, Regina. The winning time was 2:08.4.
Colt pacers were up next in three splits, with victories going to Nate Breeze (Nuclear Breeze), Nucular Enemy (Nuclear Breeze) and Cervante Bluestone (The Panderosa).
Nate Breeze, owned, trained and reined by Roger Hammer, survived an early battle with DVC Is Magical and driver Jim Dodson. Nate Breeze parked the latter for the mile, as they got to the half in 1:01.1. Despite a 1:05 final half, the pair held off the rest of the pack to finish 1-2.
Nucular Enemy, unlike his stablemate, avoided an early battle, taking a seat behind Top Of The Mark and scoring from the pocket in 2:02.1 with a :59.3 last half. For Nucular Enemy, it was his sixth consecutive win, and his 11th on the year in 20 starts. He is now tied atop the list of winningest sophomores in North America this year (with Atoka Millionaire).
Cervante Bluestone then won his division in 2:05.3 for driver Eddie McNeight. Dean Santantonio owns and trains.
Two $5,900 filly pacing events concluded Sire Stake action, and Hammer swept both races – but only as an owner and trainer. With multiple horses in each division, Hammer called on Chris Shaw to drive both Serenity Breeze (Nuclear Breeze) and Paints Hall (Blissfull Hall). Shaw guided both of his drives to the winners circle. Serenity Breeze overcame a second tier start to win in 2:03.3, while Paints Hall was a 2:05.2 winner.
In the Quaker Stake for PA-owned or PA-sired trotters, Dixie General was a wire-to-wire winner for trainer-driver Briant Weaver. Heidi Weaver owns the Bedford County gelding, a 2:16.1 winner.
In the Quaker Pace, Big Pulse went wire-to-wire for Shaw in 2:03.3. Debbie U'Ren owns the Quik Pulse Mindale gelding, while Scott U’Ren trains.
The circuit next moves to the Washington County Fairgrounds, just a few miles from The Meadows. The track, known as Arden Downs and the original site of Grand Circuit racing in the area, will host races on Monday and Tuesday at 10 a.m.
(PA Fair Harness Horsemen's Association)