from harness publicists across North America

Tuesday’s (Aug. 4) edition of Fair Roundup features results stories from the Clearfield County (PA) Fair and the Summit County (OH) Fair.

Freshmen impressive in opening action at Clearfield (PA) Fair

Clearfield, PA — The first two days of the 2015 four-day meet at the Clearfield County Fairgrounds in this northcentral Pennsylvania city are in the books, with 2-year-olds in the spotlight — trotters on Sunday and pacers on Monday.

This week is the 10-year anniversary of the victory in the prestigious Hambletonian by Vivid Photo, who made and won his first career start in PA Fair Sire Stakes action at the local circuit’s Bloomsburg Fair, so perhaps it was appropriate that Vivid Photo’s co-owners, Roger Hammer and Todd Schadel, swept all five of the Fair Sire Stakes trotting events offered Sunday.

Hammer trained and drove three winners, including two horses who have lost but once at the fairs — the Great George Two-Annabelle Lane filly A Little Laid Back (2:06; 7-6-0-0) and the Donato Hanover-Gaytanes gelding High Octane (2:07.2; 6-5-1-0). The other Hammerite was Keystone Shotgun, a Yankee Glide gelding out of Keystone Sirena who won in 2:06.4 for the partnership of Hammer and Todd Schadel.

Schadel’s two winners included the Yankee Glide-Keystone Brittany gelding Keystone Blade, fastest winner of the day at 2:05.2 for his second straight victory (his first handed High Octane his only defeat), who Schadel trains, drives and co-owns with wife Christine; and the Cantab Hall-Eclat Hanover filly Connie Jean, now perfect in three fair outings after a 2:07.2 jaunt for the partnership of Charles Keller III (a candidate for the Harness Hall of Fame), Charles Keller IV, Dan Bittle, and Brett Bittle.

Come Monday and the pacers, the spotlight shifted to the red-hot triumvirate who have come to the Pennsylvania fair circuit this year with great success — driver Brandon Givens, trainer Kevin Lare, and owner Frank Chick. The trio had three winners on the day, including the card’s fastest, 2:03.4, posted by the Well Said-Lioness Hanover colt Well Lets See, who ran his fair record to 7-6-0-1 and in the process handed Billy’s Falcon (Hammer), who had won in 1:59.4 at Gratz earlier, his first fair setback after five straight triumphs.

In the pacing filly ranks, Worthy Jackie (Shark Gesture-Jakes Lil Sis) was quickest in 2:05.4 for trainer/driver Sam Beegle and Bay Pond Racing Stable. Two other fillies ran their fair marks to 6-5-1-0: Unbeamlievable (Moon Beam-DVC Ibelieveinangles, 2:06.2) for driver Chris Shaw, trainer/brother Jason, and owner/nephew Mason; and Devious Behavior (Dragon Again-Ideal Sign, 2:06.4) for Team Givens/Lare/Chick. Both fillies, ironically, had their only defeat at Bedford — they have yet to meet.

The two days saw Roger Hammer train and drive four winners to lead those respective columns; Givens and Lare had three each; and also with three training wins was Gary Johnston, having a fine season, with Shawn Johnston winning with two and Aaron Johnston piloting the other.

The 3-year-olds will be in the spotlight at 12 noon on Tuesday and Wednesday, with the trotters leading off the sophomore action at Clearfield.

— PA Fair Harness Horsemen’s Association

Summit County Fair
Northfield Park hosted the Summit County (OH) Fair’s harness racing program on Saturday (Aug. 1). There were 13 Ohio Fair Racing Conference 2- and 3-year-old colt and filly stakes, plus a Billings Trot on the fair’s card.

Nobles Finesse (Feelin Friskie-Lady Lonesome) turned in the fastest pacing mile of the night in capturing the 3-year-old colt pace in 1:55.3. The fastest trot on the card came in the 3-year-old filly trot when Student Of Life (Full Count-Lynn’s Slider) toured the Northfield Park twice-around in 1:57.1.

Kurt Sugg had three driving wins in the stakes races to lead all drivers while Ron Steck and Sugg each had two trips to the winner’s circle as trainers to lead that category.

Ohio Fair Racing Conference action continues Tuesday (Aug. 4) at the Wood County Fair at Bowling Green with a 19-race program. Post time for the first race will be 5 p.m.

— Bill Peters