by Jeff Zidek, for the Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission
York, PA — Freshmen took to the track on Tuesday (September 13) for a morning card at the York, Pa., Fairgrounds, in 15 stakes heats.
Fly Away and City Image, both trained and reined by Sam Beegle, captured the day’s richest events, two $6,100 divisions of the PA Sire Stake 2-year-old colt pace. Fly Away (Allamerican Native), owned by the Takedown Stable and Daniel and Thomas Courtemanche, went right to the lead and paced in 2:02.4 on the half-mile oval. City Image, a Metropolitan gelding, sat in the pocket by a slow 1:06.1 half, then came on late to get the win in 2:08.2 for owners Daniel and Thomas Courtemanche.
Four divisions of the PASS filly pace were also featured, and trainer/driver Steve Schoeffel captured the first two splits with Chrome Over and Wanna Go Fast, a pair of Yankee Cruiser fillies. Chrome Over paced in 2:03.2 while Wanna Go Fast covered the mile in 2:05.1. Both horses went wire-to-wire.
Dragon Or Angel, owned by Ronald Bates, was an upset winner in the third division, garnering her first career victory in her 11th start. Mike Gillock trains the Dragon Again filly, who paced in 2:05.1 for driver Wayne Long. The Real Artist filly Real Dixie, owned by the Brocious Racing Stable, trained and driven by Bobby Rougeaux, won the final division in 2:04.3.
Trainer/driver Todd Schadel then took control of the track, winning all three divisions of the PASS filly trot with horses out of his own stable. Meadowbranch Jill (2:09.3), By A Nose Hanover (2:06.1) and Cantab Cabela (2:04.4) were all winners, and all are daughters of Cantab Hall.
In colt trotting action, Bob And Bobby gave Schoeffel his third winning drive of the day, this time as a catch-driver for trainer Bill Daugherty and owner Susan Daugherty. Bob And Bobby, by Andover Hall, trotted in 2:06.3. In the second colt trot, Redder Than Red went wire-to-wire in 2:06.4 for driver Chris Shaw. The Dunn Stable owns the SJ’s Caviar gelding, while Boots Dunn trains. Schadel then picked up the final sire stakes win of the day, guiding Meadowbranch Jack (SJ’s Caviar) to a 2:07.4 win. Hans Enggren bred and owns the gelding, while Schadel trains.
In the lone division of the Quaker Stake for trotters, Side Ways was a winner for Chris Shaw in 2:09.1. In Quaker pacing action, Jeff Lieberman guided Bee Mischievous to a 2:06.1 win, while DVC Itsanattitude scored for David Brickell in 2:06.2.
The circuit’s next stop is Gratz, Pa., on Sunday and Monday for two days of stakes action. For video highlights from the circuit, visit www.youtube.com/pafairs.