from the Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission

The PA Fair Circuit rolled into Butler County for the first full fair of the year, featuring three days of racing at the Big Butler Fairgrounds.

The 2-year-olds were in action on Thursday, June 26, with a mix of Pennsylvania Sire Stakes and Quaker Stake events.

Three divisions of the PASS 2-year-old colt trot opened the day, with victories going to Pine Hill Bling (Yankee McCoy-Hidden Victory), HRS Major Windfall (Donerail-Elana Hanover) and Reinsman Hanover (Andover Hall-Remarkable Image).

Michelle Albaugh-Young, who co-owns Pine Hill Bling with her husband, Tom, trained and guided the colt to a 2:14.3 win in the opening split. Dave Brickell was the winning trainer/driver in the second group, as he drove HRS Major Windfall to a 2:13.2 win for owners Jack and Sherry Claypoole. In the last division, a newcomer to the circuit, Henrik Hollsten, trained and drove Reinsman Hanover to a 2:13.1 win for the Reve Avec Moi Dreamwithme Stable of Quebec.

Two $5,264 divsions of 2-year-old filly trotters were up next and Hollsten garnered the bulk of the purse money. In the first group, he guided Beltane Hanover (Andover Hall-Brittany’s Dream) to a 2:11.3 win. In the second group, another Andover Hall filly out of his stable, Stay With Us (Andover Hall-Yankee Nugget), won for catch-driver Steve Schoeffel in 2:14.2. Reve Avec Moi Dreamwithme owns both fillies.

Freshman colt pacers were up next in PASS competition. Lahaye, trained by Roger Hammer and driven by Todd Schadel, won the first division in 2:04.3. The Real Artist-Keystone Mia colt is owned by Hammer along with Nevin Gilbert.

The second division brought Schadel another win, as the Western Hanover-Give Me Life gelding Gallant Yankee scored in 2:04.1. Hammer and Schadel co-own the winner, and Schadel trains.

The final colt pacing division was won by DVC Firm Believer (Quentin Hanover-DVC Iblievenangles), owned by Timmy Offutt and Ryan Knott. Offutt trains and reined the winner, who crossed the wire in 2:05.2.

The final sire stake group of the day featured 2-year-old pacing fillies in three divisions.

Pietra Hanover (I Am A Fool-Princess Nadia) won the first division in 2:06.2 for Schoeffel. Gary Johnston was the winning trainer for owners Virginia and Kathy Schoeffel.

Schoeffel and Johnston teamed again for the victory in division two, as Mud Pie Hanover (Allamerican Native-Mud Hen) won in 2:05.1. Virginia and Kathy Schoeffel co-own the winner along with Kathy’s mother, Marian Schilling.

Finally, Brickell added his second win of the day in the third division, guiding DVC Fivoclock to a 2:06.1 victory in the third split. The Quentin Hanover-Cajun Attitude filly is owned and trained by Brickell.

The day’s last two races were Quaker Stake events. In the 2-year-old Quaker Trot, BS Surgin Don was the winner in 2:14. Sue and Dean Brickell own the Bedford County-B S Tinkerbell gelding, and Dave Brickell was the winning driver.

The 2-year-old Quaker Pace was won by Tarra Risen Dragon (Gotta Future-Brooke’s Dragon), a 2:12 winner for Schoeffel. Wayne Graham, Jr. owns the filly, who is trained by Ted Williams.

Racing continues at Butler on Friday, June 27, with 3-year-olds in action.