Roger Hammer guided four winners on the afternoon - three from his own barn - during the first day of Bloomsburg Stake action at an unusual venue, the Gratz Fairgrounds in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, near Harrisburg
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The races were moved from the Bloomsburg Fairgrounds due to heavy flooding in Columbia County, which forced the cancellation of the entire Bloomsburg Fair, but Gratz offered to host the races, and Hammer made the most of the opportunity.
The day's first stake, the $5,446 Bloomsburg Stake for freshman colt pacers, was captured by Nucular Enemy, trained and reined by Hammer. The Nuclear Breeze colt overcame a second-tier start, moving from fifth at the quarter to the lead by the half, which he reached in 1:02. He then sprinted home in 59.2 for a mile in 2:01.2, more than two lengths ahead of NF Drum Roll and driver Todd Schadel.
Two splits of the colt trot were up next, and Avenue Of Dreams (Broadway Hall) gave Hammer his second win of the day, timed in 2:01. Hammer got away third while Redder Than Red, one of the top colts on the fair circuit all summer long, cut the quarter in 30.1 for driver Chris Shaw. Hammer then made his move to the front, reaching the half in 1:00.1 and the 3/4 in 1:30.3 before opening up a comfortable lead at the wire, reached in 2:01. Redder Than Red settled for second.
In the second colt trot, Ballagio Hanover went wire-to-wire on his home track for trainer/driver Todd Schadel. The Cantab Hall colt won in 2:04.2 over Hammer and NF Tbone. Todd and Christine Schadel own the winner.
Hammer then returned to the winners circle after the first division of the Bloomsburg Stake for two-year-old filly pacers, as Shootoutthelights took a pocket trip behind Chrome Over and driver Steve Schoeffel, getting up to win by just under a length. The winning time for the Dragon Again filly was 2:00.3. Chrome Over finished second.
In the second filly pacing split, Real Dixie scored in 2:01.2 for trainer/driver Bobby Rougeaux. The Real Artist filly, owned by the Brocious Racing Stable, sat the pocket and shook loose late for the win over front running Wanna Go Fast and Schoeffel.
The day's richest event, the $5,946 Bloomsburg Stake for filly trotters, was won by Barefoot Brook (Cantab Hall), owned by the Dunn Stable and trained by Boots Dunn. Starting in the second tier, the filly moved to the outside down the backstretch and made the first-over effort work, winning for Hammer in 2:03.1. Cantab Cabela and Schadel cut the mile and finished second.
Bloomsburg Stakes continue on Tuesday at the Gratz Fairgrounds with seven stakes slated for three-year-olds. Post time will be 1 p.m.
(PHRC)