Driver Steve Schoeffel enjoyed one of his best days of the season at the Gratz Fairgrounds on Monday, winning five races, including the 1000th of his driving career
Schoeffel, 41, has picked up numerous wins over the years both at The Meadows and on the Buffalo/Batavia circuit, but it seemed fitting that he earned #1,000 on the fair circuit, where he has been a mainstay for two decades. This season, the Evans City, PA native has 64 wins on the circuit, second only to Roger Hammer (106).
Win #1000 came in the third race of the day, as he went wire-to-wire with Chips A Cumin in a Quaker Trot. Chips A Cumin, by Chip Chip Hooray, is a homebred – bred by Steve’s late father Terry, former President of the PA Fair Harness Horsemen’s Association who passed away this past December. The horse remains in the family, owned by Steve’s mother, Virginia, and his wife, Kathy, along with Jim Reuther. The trotter covered the mile in 2:04.1 for his first win of the season.
In other action at Gratz, DVC Holdnitsteady earned his first win of the season, pacing in 1:59.1 for a come-from-behind win in a PA Sire Stake three-year-old colt pace. Aaron Johnston guided the winner for owners Charlie Moses and Shawn Johnston. Moses trains the Arturo gelding.
In another colt pacing division, Schoeffel catch-drove Town Treasure to a victory for trainer Jim Ray, who co-owns with David Wisser. A Metropolitan colt, Town Treasure paced in 1:58.1, the fastest mile of the meet.
The final colt pacing division was won by Sapphire City a winner for Todd Schadel in 1:59. Unchallenged throughout much of the mile, Sapphire City cruised to his second straight win on the circuit for owners Schadel and Hammer.
Hammer picked up a driving victory in the first $5,800 division of the PASS sophomore colt trot, guiding Boots Dunn’s Linus B Worthy to a 2:02.1 win. Linus B Worthy, by Cantab Hall, has now won 8 of 21 starts this season. Schoeffel returned to the winners circle after the second division, guiding Cadence Hall to a 2:02.1 win for owner Susan Daugherty and trainer Bill Daugherty.
Two divisions of the PASS three-year-old filly pace were up next, and Hammer swept the event, with Caramel Chinno (Allamerican Native, 1:59.1) and Wishfullartist (Real Artist, 2:01.1). Hammer owns and trains both fillies.
Schoeffel and Hammer traded victories back and forth in the three-year-old filly trot, with Schoeffel taking the first division behind Mynah Hanover, out of his own barn, in 2:01.1. The Cantab Hall filly is owned by Stephen Lander, Virginia and Kathy Schoeffel. Hammer then guided Red Rum Lass (SJs Caviar) to the second division win in 2:04.1. Bill Kirwan owns the filly, while John McMullen trains. The final division went back to the Schoeffel barn, as My Good Side scored in 2:03.3. Tom Barrett owns the daughter of Broadway Hall.
In the lone division of the Quaker Pace, Uptown Dreamer was a winner in 2:01.3 for owner/trainer/driver David Brickell. In a Quaker Trot division, Joyful Anna won for owner Eli Beiler, trainer Syl King, and driver Tony Schadel in 2:07.2.
The PA Fair Circuit reminds all horsemen that next week’s races, originally scheduled for the Bloomsburg Fair, have been moved to Gratz after flooding canceled the entire Bloomsburg Fair for this year. All races will take place on the dates originally scheduled, but post time for each day at Gratz will be 1:00 p.m.. All entries should be phoned in to the Gratz Race Office at (717) 365-3144.
(PHRC)