Trotters and pacers invaded the Greene County Fairgrounds in Waynesburg, Pa. on Tuesday (August 8) and Wednesday (August 9), contesting over $84,000 in Pennsylvania Fair Sire Stakes, with the two-year-olds going first and the sophomores featured in the windup card.
The most remarkable mile on Tuesday came in the 'B' division of the baby colt pace, going almost four seconds faster than the 'A' section. That was because Marvalous Falcon was entered in the lower-level event by cagey Roger Hammer to build the colt’s confidence – and to possibly get a respite from Venier Hanover, who was going to be second to 2018 Little Brown Jug favourite Done Well before making a late break and finishing third at Pocono Tuesday night. Marvalous Falcon already has two 'A' wins to his credit, one being Venier Hanover’s only fair defeat and the other a 1:58.2 win at Gratz, and the Delmarvalous gelding will be headed back up to the 'A' division per Pennsylvania Fair Stakes rules after winning his second straight 'B' event, here in 2:05.1 for breeder-owner-trainer-driver Hammer.
On Wednesday, the fastest mile of the day was put in by a trotter, three-year-old Yankee Glide gelding New Heaven, who won in 2:03.1 for driver Chris Shaw. His connections have been known to have success in other levels of racing – trainer Ron Burke and the ownership team of Burke Racing Stable, LLC, Weaver Bruscemi, LLC, Knox Services, Inc., and David Wills.
In Wednesday’s first mile, the Donato Hanover filly All Set Lets Go showed no ill effect from racing and winning at Honesdale, some 359 miles away, on Sunday, coming right on back on the Pennsylvania interstates to tally in 2:06.2 for her eighth straight triumph. Chris Shaw was in the sulky as well for trainer John McMullen, Jr. and the McMullen Stable, LLC. All Set Lets Go is the top point-earner at the fairs over all divisions so far in 2017.
The slowest mile of the day was taken by the filly who has the most fair points among all pacers – the Delmarvalous filly Gemalous, who dawdled to the three-quarters in 1:46.2, then streaked home in :28 for her sixth win of the fair season for trainer Jason Shaw, owner Mason Shaw (Jason’s son), and driver Chris Shaw (Jason’s brother), who had five wins on the day and seven at the meet. Gemalous’s two bitter rivals, Bella Ragaza and Camera Lady, both won later in the day at Honesdale, so Gemalous needed the victory to stay atop the standings.
(Pennsylvania Fair Harness Horsemen’s Association)