by Jeff Zidek

Harness racing on the Pennsylvania fair circuit wrapped up at Honesdale and Waynesburg on Thursday afternoon (August 9), as both tracks successfully avoided bad weather across the state and completed their racing seasons.

At Waynesburg, six Quaker Stake events were featured. Piece Work (Windswept Balance) started the day with a win in the $2,610 2-year-old trot. Owned by trainer Patrick Smith along with Philip Wentworth, the colt won in 2:09.3 for driver Chris Offutt.

The $2,470 2-year-old Quaker pace was captured by Tea Room Artist, a Real Artist filly. She crossed the wire in 2:04.3 for Offutt, who co-owns the filly with his father, Joe, who trains.

The 3-year-old Quaker trot split into two groups, won by stablemates Forrest County and Susquehanna County, a pair of Sierra Kosmos offspring. Wilbur Yoder drove both winners for owners John and Michele McMullen. John McMullen trains the winners, who won in 2:05.4 and 2:06.2, respectively.

Au Artist put on the most impressive display of the day, winning the first division of the 3-year-old Quaker pace for driver Winston Lineweaver in 2:02.1 despite being parked for the first three-quarters of the mile. The Real Artist filly is owned and trained by Bill Kreutzer.

Big Bad Shady wrapped up the day’s stake action with a victory in 2:03.3 in the other Quaker sophomore pace. Owned and trained by Jason Shaw, the winner, by Shady Character, was driven by Jason’s brother, Chris.

At Honesdale, a pair of Pennsylvania Sires Stake races were featured, won by DVC Elegant Beauty (2-year-old filly pace) and RT Coolart (2-year-old colt pace).

Dave Brickell owns, trains and reined DVC Elegant Beauty to a victory in the $4,224 filly pace. By Quentin Hanover, DVC Elegant Beauty won in 2:04.4.

Robert Rougeaux was in the bike behind RT Coolart, an Arturo colt that he trains for owner Harold Brocious. The winning time was 2:04.

In Quaker Stake action, Russell Williams’ Tatterdemalion was a winner in the 2-year-old filly trot for trainer/driver Pete Kaiser. The Mr Lavec filly scored in 2:10.2 in the $2,615 event.

In the 3-year-old Quaker trot, JC Mik Mac Jillio was a winner for owner/trainer Brickell and driver Alexander Amos. The Bedford County filly won in 2:04.1, besting stablemate Hardwood Hanover.

Racing in Pennsylvania moves on to the Washington County Fairgrounds on Monday morning at 10:00 a.m.

For more information on the PA 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