by Jerry Connors, the Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission

Wilkes-Barre, PA — Three fillies added to long winning streaks during the first card of the two-day $80,000 Pennsylvania Sires Stakes Fair Championships at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs on Monday, October 8, while the other broke an even longer losing string.

As the field turned for home in the sophomore trot, the “stronger halves” of their respective entries, Heirodynamic and Shesfastandfurious, looked ready to engage in a classic stretch duel. But then from the clouds came Heirodynamic’s mate in the barn of Randy and Cliff Neal, June Party, and that daughter of SJ’s Caviar mounted a huge stretch burst to take a new mark of 1:59.1, with Heirodynamic second and Shesfastandfurious third.

June Party thus snapped a 14-race losing streak, dating back exactly three months to the day, in visiting Victory Lane for catch-driver Ed McNeight, Jr. and the Neals, with Randy sharing ownership with trainer Cliff.

Big City Hanover notched her eighth straight tally while taking a new speed badge of 1:57.4 in winning the sophomore pace. The Dragon Again filly was out three-deep from before the three-quarters, but she steadily ground to victory for driver Todd Schadel and owner/trainer Michael Gillock.

Blueridge Saprisa had more than enough late while lowering her mark to 2:02.1 in the freshman trot. Trainer Steve Schoeffel guided the Donerail miss to her fifth consecutive victory for owners Stephen Lander and Kathy Schoeffel.

The Real Artist distaff Ty’s Artist extended her personal winning skein to six while commanding the freshman pace in 1:58.2. Trainer-owner Roger Hammer was in the sulky behind the steady 2-year-old.

Finishing Lines: The four events for colts will take place on Tuesday at Pocono….After her race, the connections of Big City Hanover seemed sure they’d try their luck representing Pennsylvania during the $100,000 Interstate Fair Championships night at Yonkers October 20; the braintrust behind June Party were considering their options (one of which may be the fact that if the winner chooses not to go, the second-place horse is then invited — and the Neals, remember, also had the place horse, Heirodynamic).