Honesdale, PA — The rains that have been plaguing harness racing all over in the last couple of weeks made their way to the Wayne County Fair, in this Honesdale, Pa., on Thursday (Aug. 8), forcing cancellation of the 3-year-old Pennsylvania Fair Sire Stakes action and also a free-for-all trot. But Wednesday (Aug. 7) produced plenty of quality action from 2-year-olds, and a track record-equaling mile in the free-for-all pace.
There were two $1,100 divisions of the free-for-all pace, and both went in 1:58.4, but it was the mare Diamond Head, a daughter of Somebeachsomewhere, who equaled the Honesdale record for older pacing mares set in 2018 by Bring Me Diamonds. Justin Huckabone trains and drives for owner Matthew Dugan.
The other split went to the Stay Hungry gelding Annapolis Hanover, for driver Eric Neal and owner-trainer Mitchell York.
Two horses reached five fair “A” victories in the freshman Fair Sire Stakes. First up was Classy Cocktail, the current fair season’s divisional record holder, who won in 2:05.1. Trainer-driver Tony Schadel shares ownership of the Cantab Hall-Cocktail Attire trotting miss with his wife, Linda, and the duo came right back to sweep the class with the Southwind Frank-Phanny’s Photo filly Just A Sheila.
The other five-time “A” winner is unbeaten at the fairs: the Papi Rob Hanover-Well What’s New gelding Wheelhouse Hanover, home in 2:03.3 for trainer-driver Todd Schadel, who shares ownership with his son Cody. Todd came right back to take the other “A” race in this group with the Captain Crunch-Bettorhaveanother colt Bettor Not, who became the fastest 2-year-old in a “B” section, and here stepped up to “A” and won for trainer-driver Schadel and co-owner Christine Schadel.
Sam Beegle won both divisions of the “A” filly pace for the same connections: himself as trainer-driver and co-owner with Ginger Tree Ventures LLC, Knollview Stable and Bob Reber Jr. First up was the Papi Rob Hanover-Latte Lady miss Ginger Tree Millie, who got Beegle his 1,000th driving win at Bedford, Pa.; and then came Ginger Tree Jean, a Stay Hungry-Allamerican filly. Beegle almost had a big sweep but finished second in the “B” division to Tina’s Wish, who won in 2:04.4, faster than either of the “A” winners.
The busiest week of the Pennsylvania Fairs racing season starts on Sunday (Aug. 11), with the Washington County Fair, racing at the facility formerly known as Arden Downs when it was part of the Grand Circuit, in action at 10 a.m., with another card at 11 a.m. on Monday (Aug. 12). Then comes racing at Dayton Fair (Aug. 14-15), Somerset County Fair (Aug. 15-16), and Crawford County Fair (Aug. 17-18). More information about Pennsylvania fair racing can be found at www.pafairsracing.org.