Three-year-olds wrapped up their portion of the Pennsylvania fair schedule at the Gratz Fairgrounds on Wednesday (Sept. 28), and Steve Schoeffel won half of the day's 10 races
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PA Sire Stake races were featured on the card, and the day started with two $5,855 divisions of the three-year-old filly pace. Livinwell Hanover was impressive in her split, winning in 1:59.2 despite being parked the entire mile from Post 6. Paul Moore trains and was in the bike behind the daughter of The Panderosa, now a winner of six of 28 starts. Rosemarie Moore owns the filly.
In the second division, Chris Shaw guided DVC Hopnattitude to a 1:59.2 win from a second tier starting spot, upsetting Caramel Chinno, a filly that had only lost one prior fair start this year. Shaw also owns DVC Hopnattitude, a daughter of Magical Mike.
Schoeffel then took control of the winner's circle, capturing the day's next four races. He won the first two divisions of the filly trot with horses out of his own barn -- My Good Side (by Broadway Hall) and Mynah Hanover (by Cantab Hall). My Good Side, owned by Tom Barrett, trotted in 2:04.2, while Mynah Hanover, owned by Stephen Lander, Virginia and Kathy Schoeffel, scored in 2:02.4/
In the third division, Schoeffel catch-drove Girls Getaway (by Donerail) to a 2:05.3 win for owner Bill Altmeyer and trainer Terry Altmeyer. It was the filly's eighth win of the season.
Colt pacers were up next, and Town Treasure paced the day's fastest mile, stopping the watch in 1:58.1 for Schoeffel. David Wisser and Jim Ray own the Metropolitan colt, while Ray trains.
In the second division, Roger Hammer and Todd Schadel's Sapphire City went wire-to-wire in 1:58.2. Schadel trains the son of Metropolitan, and Hammer was in the bike. For Sapphire City, it was his fourth straight win.
Schoeffel picked up his fifth win of the day in the final division, guiding Keystone Royce (by Western Hanover) to a lifetime best 2:00.1 effort. Todd and Christine Schadel own, while Todd trains.
The day ended with two $5,800 divisions of the three-year-old colt trot, and Roger Hammer swept the event with horses trained by Todd Schadel. First up was Meadowbranch Red, owned by Hans Enggren. The SJs Caviar gelding trotted his mile in 2:03.2. Finally, as heavy rains hit the fairgrounds, Keystone Wild Card, owned by the partnership of Hempt, Schadel, Graffius and Frisch, scored in 2:05. Keystone Wild Card is also sired by SJs Caviar.
The races concluded the "regular season" action for three-year-olds on the PA Fair Circuit for the year. The top eight point-winners in each division will now meet for a purse of $20,000 during Fair Championship day at The Meadows on October 8.
Two-year-olds will complete their season on Thursday at the Gratz Fairgrounds, with 11 races slated for 1 p.m. To watch action from the PA Fair Circuit, visit www.youtube.com/pafairs.
(PHRC)