from the Publicity Office, Pennsylvania Fair Harness Horsemen’s Association

Clearfield, PA — The sophomore state Sire Stakes horses were spotlighted during the second half of the four-day meet at the Clearfield County Fair in this north central Pennsylvania community, and unlike the unofficial trend that showed when the babies raced earlier in the week, the 3-year-olds lived by the motto “Save The Best For Last!”

Seth Dowling photo

All Set Lets Go won an ‘A’ division of the 3-year-old filly trot by 15-1/2 lengths in 2:02, equaling the all-age track trot mark.

Trotters were the Tuesday headliners, and in an “A” division of the 3-year-old filly trot, the Donato Hanover filly All Set Lets Go won by 15-1/2 lengths in 2:02, equaling the all-age track trot mark held by males Cottonwood Sam (2003) and Simeon (2015). The divisional record of 2:02.3, set by A Little Laid Back last year, was of course also broken, although at least a little Wite-Out was saved because Roger Hammer, who guided A Little Laid Back, was also in the sulky behind All Set Lets Go, who has now won six in a row for trainer John McMullen and his McMullen Stable LLC.

But 36 minutes later, in the last race of the day, more Wite-Out – a lot of it – was needed when the Tom Ridge colt Bet On Tom traversed the Clearfield twice around in 2:01.2 – the fastest trotting mile ever at Clearfield – in winning his division of the “A” Sire Stakes trot. A wire-to-wire 7-1/4-length winner, the new King of the Clearfield Trotting Hill was driven by Aaron Johnston for trainer Gary Johnston and owner Dr. William Solomon.

The theme of “best for last” was carried over to Wednesday’s pacing action, when the two divisions of the “A” 3-year-old colt pace were contested in the last two heats. And it was “déjà vu” all over again, as last week’s honorees at their hometown oval in Bedford, Sam Beegle and Roger Hammer, each won a division, and their horses each crossed the wire in 1:59.1 – just a fifth shy of the 3PC record at Clearfield, set by Star Of Terror last year.

For Ginger Tree Marty and Beegle, it was the fourth 2:00 victory on the fair circuit, breaking the two-day-old tie with Venier Hanover at the top of that category; the Yankee Cruiser gelding is also trained by Beegle for the Ginger Tree Stable LLC and Bob Reber. Marvalous Artist had three fair wins before this one, but they had all been at the “B” level – he handled the step-up nicely here for breeder/trainer/driver Hammer, also co-owner with Vicki Fair.

The faster of the two filly “A” cuts went to Bella Ragaza in 2:01, her fourth straight win for trainer Tony Schadel and trainer Linda Schadel, the latter co-owner with Roxanna Buffington. The other section fell to Camera Lady, last year’s winningest 2-year-old in North America (whose stablemate Venier Hanover is currently tied for that spot), under the guidance of trainer Dave Brickell, who is also co-owner with Mitchell York. (Interestingly, they were the first two races of the day.)

Roger Hammer won the annual Buster De Salvo trophy for winningest driver at the Clearfield meet, with six visits to Victory Lane over the four-day stand.