The Stoneboro Fair, in northwestern Pennsylvania, hosted a successful two-day meet this Thursday and Friday (Sept. 2-3), with fast miles and winning horses continuing to make their marks.
The meet's lone track record performance came Thursday from the rookie Southwind Frank-Tymal Elvira filly Till Im Gone, whose 2:03.2 mile broke the divisional track record of 2:04.2 shared by Magnolia Grace and Peoplesayimnogood, and also tied for the all-time fastest two-year-old mile ever at Stoneboro with the male Avenue Of Dreams. Till Im Gone's performance was a season’s record for the fair circuit for two-year-old trotting fillies, and it tied the males’ record. Wayne Long drove Till Im Gone for trainer Bob Rougeaux III and the Brocious Racing Stable Inc.
The Betting Line-Strait N Great pacing filly Bettor Strait N Up paced the fastest mile among freshmen, recording a 2:01.4 win for the partnership of trainer Linda Schadel and driver Tony Schadel. It was also was her eighth fair win, tops among two-year-olds and tied for the overall lead.
On Friday, a pair of three-year-olds broke the 2:00 barrier, both winning in 1:59.2. One was by Terry A Hanover, giving him five 2:00 miles at the fairs this year and eight wins on the circuit, tying him with Bettor Strait N Up (above) and his contemporary colt counterpart Top Me Off. Trainer Todd Schadel drove the Artspeak colt for Christine Schadel and Caitlin Solt.
The other magic mile came from the A Rocknroll Dance pacing filly Tiamogonedancen, whose 1:55.2 clocking at Bedford still stands up as the fastest mile of the season at the Pennsylvania fairs. Trainer Mitchell York and driver David Brickell swept the division’s “A” races, adding a 2:01.2 victory with the Betting Line filly Lazy Day Hanover.
The fastest trotter of the meet was the Southwind Frank filly Frankkiss, home in 2:01.4 for driver Shawn Johnston and trainer Gary Johnston, who shares ownership with Joyce Benkart.
Shawn Johnston was the top driver at Stoneboro with five victories, one ahead of Aaron Johnson and Wayne Long. Lisa Dunn topped the list of trainers with four wins, one more than Bill Daugherty Jr., Gary Johnston, Todd Schadel and Mitchell York.
The Pennsylvania fair circuit makes its last “western stop” at Meadville (Crawford County Fair) with a two-day event Thursday and Friday (Sept. 9-10), which will be drawn Tuesday. Then, there will be a fair meet and a two-day meet at Gratz, and then the final stop at Bloomsburg.
(PHHA/MSOA/PFHHA)