by Jeff Zidek

It was a day of upsets and surprises at the Great Stoneboro Fair in Stoneboro, Pennsylvania, as 3-year-olds competed in Quaker Stake and Pennsylvania Sires Stake races on Monday, September 3.

Go Chipper Go, trained at Stoneboro by owner Charlie Crouser, started the day with a victory in the 2-year-old Quaker trot, scoring in 2:06.4 for driver Winston Lineweaver.

In the Quaker pacing division, the victory went to Big Bad Shady (Shady Character), who scored for driver Chris Shaw in 2:03.3. Jason Shaw owns and trains the winner.

Ryan Zidek photo

Delmar Smith piloted Mablesyrup to a 2:07.3 win in a division of the 3-year-old colt trot.

The day’s first upset came in the first Pennsylvania Sires Stakes race of the afternoon, the first of three splits of the 3-year-old colt trot. For the first half-mile, Forrest County (Bryce Truitt driving) held a comfortable lead over Hardwood Hanover (Dave Brickell), and it appeared to be a two-horse race between a pair of colts that had posted a combined 13 wins on the year. Just past the five-eighths, however, Hardwood Hanover broke stride, leaving Forrest County alone with the lead. At the top of the stretch, Forrest County made an unforced error, breaking stride and handing the victory to Mablesyrup and owner/trainer/driver Delmar Smith. Mablesyrup, a Tagliabue colt, trotted in 2:07.3.

The second division brought another upset, as the S J’s Photo colt Bahama Yankee snapped an 0-for-17 career mark and earned his first win, trotting in 2:06 for trainer/driver David Wade. The Sweet And Sassy Stable owns Bahama Yankee.

There were no upsets in the final trotting division for colts, as RT Gizmo (RT Giant) became a nine-time winner on the year by trotting in 2:04 for trainer/driver Robert Rougeaux. Harold Brocious owns the winner, who has now posted six consecutive wins.

The first division of the filly trot brought another first-time winner, as Miss Katie Lane (Lindy Lane) ended a 15-race losing streak by scoring in 2:07.2. Joe Offutt trains the winner for owner Anne McDonald. Timmy Offutt was the winning driver.

In the second division, 10-time winner in ’07, JC Mik Mac Jillio, was upset by Heirodynamic (SJ’s Caviar). Heirodynamic picked up three lengths in the final quarter, which came in :29.4, to win for the third time in 20 starts and set a new lifetime mark with the 2:03.3 performance. Randy and Cliff Neal were the winning owners. Cliff trains, while son Randy was in the bike. JC Mik Mac Jillio finished second.

The fastest races of the day were turned in by sophomore pacing colts Future Art (2:00.2) and Broule Hanover (2:01), who won their respective divisions of PASS events.

Future Art, an Arturo gelding, gave trainer Joe Offutt his second win on the day. Offutt co-owns the winner with Marshall Herrin, while Winston Lineweaver was the winning driver. Broule Hanover went wire-to-wire for driver Bryce Truitt, who was driving for his wife, trainer Cindy. Norwood Truitt owns the Real Artist gelding.

The day’s final two races, for 3-year-old pacing fillies, were captured by DVC Dixie Cocktail (Western Hero) and Big City Hanover (Dragon Again).

DVC Dixie Cocktail scored in 2:01.1 for owner/trainer/driver Brickell, while Big City Hanover won in 2:01.3 for driver Steve Schoeffel. Mike Gillock owns and trains Big City Hanover.

The entire Pennsylvania Fair Circuit community expresses their condolences to the family of Dave Brickell, following the passing of his wife, Ronna, from complications of Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

For more information on the PA Fair Circuit, 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