from the PA Fair Harness Horsemen’s Assn. Publicity Dept.

Washington, PA — The first day of the two-day meet at the Arden Downs racetrack, during the Washington (PA) County Fair, was limited to two divisions of the 3-year-old filly pace before a widespread band of rain overswept the area around 10:30 a.m. and forced the cancellation of the day’s remaining races for sophomores.

Getting to the Washington winner’s circle before the skies opened and the rest of the card was washed out were the Real Desire filly Southern Sweetie, a 2:01.4 winner for driver Brady Brown, trainer Mike Gillock and owner Rich Gillock; and the McArdle miss TSM Soul Sister, now five-for-eight this campaign after a 2:02.2 triumph for driver Todd Cummings, trainer Bob Krenitsky Jr. and owner Ted Tomson.

With a break in the weather for Tuesday, the 2-year-olds will try to get their racing in at Washington, with a 10 a.m. first post.

Lewisburg, W.Va., home to the West Virginia State Fair and an annual four-day harness meet in conjunction with the fair, is 223 miles almost directly south of Washington, and the same line of wet stuff falling to its north had taken hold of its area, too, lasting until early afternoon.

The WVSF’s racing had one advantage, though: post time there was 5:30 p.m. and when the skies closed, lead trackmen Glen Ford and Joe Hayes Jr. did a terrific job of refurbishing the half-mile oval to the point that it was safe and raceable, and its curtainraising five-race card was held.

Featured was a $1,700 Open Trot, going to the Victory Sam gelding Calling A Victory in 2:07.2 over the sodden oval. Driver J D Wengerd figured out early that the front end was very desirable in these conditions by winning the first race in that way and he again used those tactics in the finale to complete a driving-training double for himself and conditioner Shane Heasley.

One other event, a $1,500 pace, should be mentioned, taken in a tremendously-courageous performance by the Camtown Fella gelding Go Easy On Me in 2:03.4.

Both driver Jeff Lieberman, behind Call Him Clint from post three, and driver Chuck Perry, behind Go Easy On Me one gate spot outside him, wanted the lead in this contest and Lieberman kept Perry hung through a vicious :29.2 opener. Go Easy On Me finally backed off for the two-hole nearing the three-eighths and the revved Call Him Clint went on to hit the half in :59.3. But then Perry, again not heeding the name of his horse, moved him back outside at the 1:31.2 three-quarters and went by his early tormentor on the turn.

Don’tforgetmysugar was proverbially licking his chops sitting just off this duel, but Go Easy On Me found more in the lane and held off his late rival in 2:03.4 for driver Perry and trainer/owner Henry Lewis — as game a showing as you’d see in a 1:52 mile at a pari-mutuel track.

Again, with atmospheric cooperation (and Lewisburg’s forecast is identical to Washington’s except for more likelihood of rain in late morning), the second day of the WVSF meet will have the first of its six races at 1 p.m. Tuesday.