from the PA Fair Harness Horsemen’s Association

Honesdale, PA — Artists Ruffles, the 2-year-old altered son of Real Artist who equaled the fastest mile ever paced by a 2-year-old at a Pennsylvania fair when he won in 1:57 at Bedford at the end of July, was again the Star of the Day as the freshmen were featured on the second day (Monday, Aug. 8) of the two-day special Sire Stakes meet at the Wayne County Fairgrounds oval in this northeast Pennsylvania city.

At Honesdale Artists Ruffles was victorious in 2:02.2, last quarter :28.2, for the fastest mile of the day, missing the local standard for his division, set by DVC Givemattitude in 2009, by three-fifths of a second. Artists Ruffles, the only 2-year-old with a magic mile at the PA fairs so far, bounced back from an upset defeat at Clearfield last week to run his fair tally to three-for-four for owner/trainer Roger Hammer, co-owner with Vicki Fair.

Cruiserwillwin, the Yankee Cruiser gelding who beat Artists Ruffles at Clearfield, was also victorious Monday at Honesdale, winning in 2:03.3 for owner/trainer Todd Schadel, co-owner with Christine Schadel.

The 2-year-old pacing filly Camera Lady also won Monday, remaining undefeated in seven fair starts, and the 2:05.3–:28.4 triumph was her eighth win of a still-young career, tying her for the lead in wins among North American freshman pacing disatffs with Prettyfaceuglyways. Camera Lady is looking beautiful in every way these days for Dave Brickell, who trains and drives the daughter of Dragon Again and co-owns her with Mitchell York.

On the trot side, the Caviar Crown colt King Caviar won in 2:09.3–:29.4, a notable victory in two ways: he upset Toolbox Tuesday, who had previously altered the divisional books at Butler and Bedford, and the victory was the first in the sulky for trainer Kris Rickert since June 25, 2011 (Meadville, Caspian Boko), although it must be noted that he rarely takes a turn in the bike these days.

The Pennsylvania fair circuit now splits; there will be racing 358 miles to the southwest of Honesdale at the Greene County Fair in Waynesburg on Tuesday and Wednesday, with first post at 10 a.m. each day, and the trotters and pacers will also have two days of racing during Honesdale’s fair meet on Wednesday (4 p.m.) and Thursday (1 p.m.).