from Harness Publicists across North America

Horsemen raced each other and the weather at the Gratz, Pennsylvania fairgrounds on Saturday as 12 Pennsylvania Sire Stake races were contested under the threat of rain.

2-year-olds were featured on the day, with newcomer Mr McRail winning the day’s first race, a $4,332 division of the state-bred colt trot. The Donerail gelding, owned by Jack and Sharon Claypoole, won in 2:06.4 in her first fair circuit start. Dave Brickell trains and reined the winner.

In the second division, RT Picaadilly, owned by the Brocious Racing Stable, was a 2:03.1 winner for trainer/driver Bobby Rougeaux. The Ebanks gelding is now 2-for-2 in his career, following a pari-mutuel sire stake win at The Meadows in late June.

The final colt trotting split was won by KT Justin A Moment, a Super Vintage gelding. Ed McNeight drove for owner/trainer Ken Weaver. It was the third win in four starts for KT Justin A Moment, who lowered his lifetime mark to 2:02.3.

The McArdle colt McRum N Coke won the first colt pacing event of the day, pacing in 2:00.4 for trainer/driver Joe Offutt. Owned by Offutt along with Samuel Stoltzfus, McRum N Coke now has won twice in four career starts.

Photo by Ryan Zidek

Roger Hammer’s Luscious Al became the first colt to break 2:00 on the fair circuit this season, pacing in 1:59.2.

Roger Hammer’s Luscious Al became the first colt to break 2:00 on the fair circuit this season, pacing in 1:59.2 in the second division. The Arturo gelding was driven to the victory by Todd Schadel.

The final division brought a new track record for freshmen colts, as SVC Givemeattitude scored in 1:58.3 for owner/trainer/driver Brickell. The Arturo gelding pulled from third just past the quarter (29.1), then cut fractions of 59.2 and 1:28.3 en route to the record, 1/5 of a second better than Lislea Moran’s mile in 2008.

Filly trotters were up next, with wins going to KT Dixie Hummer (Sierra Kosmos), Cummingsandgoings (SJ’s Caviar) and Bunny Tech (High Tech).

KT Dixie Hummer gave the Weaver/McNeight combination their second win of the day, trotting in 2:07.4. Cummingsandgoings was a 2:11.2 winner in her first career start, holding off a determined challenge from Rosey Chick (Brickell). Rosey Chick made a break at the start, spotted the field more than 25 lengths, and came back to challenge for the win. Cummingsandgoings is owned by Randy and Cliff Neal, trained by Cliff and was driven by Randy Neal. Bunny Tech gave driver McNeight his third win of the day, scoring in 2:10 in her first lifetime start. Syl King, Jr., trains the winner for owners John and Leslie Ducharme.

The day ended with three divisions of the freshman PASS filly pace. B-Gorgeous, a McArdle filly, won for owners Joe and Karen Offutt in the first division. Joe Offutt drove to the 2:04 victory.

Budgirls Hanover was a come-from-behind winner in the second division, lowering her lifetime mark to 2:01.2 for driver Jordon Miller. Randy Ringer owns the No Pan Intended filly, who is trained by Jordan’s father, JC Miller, Jr.

Finally, Anxiety Hanover (The Panderosa) scored in 2:01.4 in the day’s final event. Roger Hammer owns and trains the filly, who was driven by Todd Schadel.

Action at Gratz continues on Sunday, with 3-year-olds in action in PASS events, beginning at 1:00.

— Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission