by Jeff Zidek

The 2-year-olds were featured at the Indiana County Fair in Indiana, Pa., on Tuesday, August 28, with seven Sires Stake and a pair of Quaker Stake events.

Dancen SJ opened the day by winning the frosh Quaker Trot in 2:10.1. The Annie’s SJ colt was driven to victory by John Green for his wife, trainer Robin Green, and lessee Robert Hogue.

The single division of the 2-year-old Quaker Pace was won by Blissfull Doll, driven by Timmy Offutt for owner Anne McDonald. Joe Offutt trains the Blissfull Hall filly, who paced the mile in 2:07.1.

The third race of the day posted the afternoon’s largest purse, $4,228 for the PA-sired freshman colt trot. Keystone Teddy, a Lindy Lane gelding co-owned by Roger Hammer and Todd Schadel, scored in 2:11.2. Schadel trains the winner, who was reined by Hammer.

Two groups of PASS filly trotters were on tap next, with victories going to Coyote Lara (Malabar Millennium) and Taboo Yankee (SJ’s Caviar).

Owner/trainer/driver Kim Good guided Coyote Lara to a 2:12.3 win, while Ray Romanetti steered Taboo Yankee to a 2:09.3 score for owners Lori Romanetti, Ray Jeffries and Beverly Jeffries.

The first 2-year-old PASS colt pace was won from the second tier by Drive All Night, trained and reined by Steve Schoeffel. The Real Artist gelding paced in 2:02.3 for owners Virginia and Kathy Schoeffel and James Nelson.

Schoeffel then took the second division with another gelding from his stable, Special Character. The son of Shady Character paced the mile in 2:03.4 for Virginia and Kathy Schoeffel and Marian Schilling.

Randy and Cliff Neal’s Matchless won the first split of the PASS 2-year-old filly pace, scoring in 2:03.2. Randy Neal drove the winner for his dad, trainer Cliff. Matchless is a daughter of Spy Hard.

Finally, the second freshman filly pace was won by Miss Marfa (The Panderosa) in 2:04. Wilbur Yoder drove the winner for owners Wayne Shaffer III and Wayne Shaffer, Jr., and trainer Rich Gillock.

Meanwhile, in the northwestern corner of the state, four overnight races were held at the Erie County Fair in Wattsburg, Pa. Of special note was Annabelle Lee’s 2:08.3 win in the non-winners trot. The mile established a new track standard for older trotting mares. Terry Brown drove the winner.

Racing continues at both Indiana and Wattsburg on Wednesday.

For more information on harness racing at Pennsylvania’s county fairs, see any of the following sites:

PA Harness Racing Commission: www.agriculture.state.pa.us
PA Breeders: www.standardbredbreederspa.org
PA Fair Horsemen: www.pafairharness.com