The females were the stars of the show at the last fair on the “western swing” of the Pennsylvania fair racing season, rewriting the record books on Thursday (two-year-olds) and Friday (three-year-olds) at the fairgrounds at this northwest Pennsylvania oval.
It may even be unprecedented to have the first three races of a meeting cause alterations in the local divisional standards, but that’s just what the two-year-old filly trotters did in Thursday’s first three races. First up was the International Moni – Nightflix Hanover filly H Moni Winner, who turned in a 2:03 mile to take two-fifths off the 2021 standard of Till Im Gone (the old mark had equaled the track’s baby colt mark of Avenue Of Dreams as well). Shawn Johnston drove the winner for trainer Dana Kahrig and owner Joseph Burkholder.
The Wite-Out wasn’t even dry yet when in the very next race the Andover Hall – R T Sun Poco filly RT Pocos Lady equaled the 2:03 record. Tom Loughry Jr. may be second in the season’s training standings, but this was only his second lifetime driving win, and he did it in style for Brocious Racing Stable Inc.
Then came Classy Cocktail, a daughter of Cantab Hall – Cocktail Attire who went faster yet, stopping the watches in 2:02.2 as she won at the fairs for the eighth time, as many as any other horse on the circuit (for a little while, anyway). Trainer/driver Tony Schadel co-owns the consistent two-year-old, also the fastest baby trotter of the meet, with his wife Linda.
Classy Cocktail was later tied as an eight-time “A” stake winner by the Bar Hopping – Moots gelding Mr Hooper, who won for the sixth straight time. Aaron Johnson drove the impressive freshman for trainer Bill Daugherty Jr. and owner/wife Susan.
Those two trotters were tied for top in 2024 fair wins for exactly two races, and then came the Papi Rob Hanover – Well Whats New pacing gelding Wheelhouse Hanover, who won for the ninth time in an undefeated fair campaign for trainer/driver Todd Schadel and his son Cody.
As far as two-year-old pacing speed, a filly led that stat as well – the Always B Miki – Thecrowdiswatching miss Milagro, who paced in 2:00.3, and has won four straight for the same connections as Classy Cocktail – Tony and Linda Schadel.
When the sophomores came out on Friday, two pacing misses stood far above the crowd, and they were both Betting Line fillies driven by Todd Schadel. The first was a catch-drive for trainer Sam Beegle, Gingertree Carilin, who equaled Vorst’s 2016 divisional pacing mark of 1:58.2 for the ownership of Beegle, Ginger Tree Ventures LLC, Knollview Stable 2, and Reber & B Stable.
In the very next race, the stopwatches again clicked at 1:58.2 when Showboat Hanover, the 2023 Fair Championship winner, tied the Stoneboro record for her group. Todd Schadel also trains this filly and co-owns her with his wife Christine and Caitlin Solt.
Sophomore trotting speed honours went to the Greenshoe gelding Cyclone Ben, who has now won five “on the trot” as they say overseas for consecutive wins, this one in 2:02.3. Steve Schoeffel trains and drove the winner for wife Kathy, Stephen Lander, Roger Romesser, and Renee Lovett.
Eric Neal swept the pacing colt races, both at the “A” and “B” levels, and the “B” winner, RT Whistlin Willy, will now have to elevate to “A” as the “eligible at time of entry” rule will not apply here. At least you can’t say he’s been beating the same group of unfortunate horses – Friday’s win, in the last race, was a walkover, accomplished in a leisurely 2:34.
It was an important win for Eric Neal, though, as it allowed him to tie Todd Schadel for most driving victories at the meet with seven. Todd sent out five winners to beat out Bill Daugherty Jr. by one.
The last three sessions of the 2024 Pennsylvania fair harness season will be at two stops: Gratz will have its two-day meet next Friday and Saturday at noon; the same post time will be applicable during the fair meet on Sunday, Sept. 15 and Monday, Sept. 16. The fair season concludes as customary at Bloomsburg on Friday, Sept. 20 and Saturday, Sept. 21. Horses will be fighting until the very end to earn enough points to race in their divisional Fair Championships on a $200,000 USD day at The Meadows on Friday, Oct. 11.
(PA Fair Circuit)